Arkansas sneaks past Robert Morris, 79-74

Arkansas sophomore guard BJ Young drives to the lane as Robert Morris junior guard Caron Williams applies pressure during the first half Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

— Arkansas narrowly escaped the test Robert Morris provided Thursday at Bud Walton Arena.

BJ Young scored 23 points and Hunter Mickelson added a career-high 16 as the Razorbacks slid past the Colonials 79-74 to improve to 6-4 this season.

Mickelson scored seven of his points in the first 4:30 of the second half to give the Razorbacks the lead for good. The sophomore forward stayed hot, totaling 14 points in the half by hitting all six of his field goal attempts.

Caron Williams hit 3-pointers with 7:19 left and 4:08 to cut Arkansas' lead to four and six points respectively, but Marshawn Powell and Young answered both the treys with baskets helping the Razorbacks maintain the lead.

Arkansas struggled at the free throw line, making just 13 of its 26 attempts. The Razorbacks got a combined 65 points from its starters to evade the upset, though, and snap a five-game win streak for the Colonials (8-5).

Marshawn Powell added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Mardracus Wade 14 points to Arkansas' win.

Both teams started the game hot from beyond the arc, but simmered quickly. Young hit a 3-point basket with 15:25 left in the first half to tie the game 13-13, but the Razorbacks failed to make another 3-pointer the rest of the period.

Despite some shooting struggles, Arkansas overcame an eight-point deficit in the period, using a 10-0 run en route to staking a 35-34 halftime lead.

Robert Morris had to play most of the first half without its leading scorer, Velton Jones, after he picked up his third foul in his fourth minute of play. The senior finished with three points, well below his average 12.3 points per game entering the contest.

On Saturday, the Razorbacks will host Alabama A&M at North Little Rock's Verizon Arena.