Logan Wilson is a reporter for WholeHogSports.com.
Arkansas wins finale
By:
Logan Wilson
Published: Saturday, March 9, 2013
Photo by Jason Ivester
Arkansas freshman Michael Qualls drives to the basket against Texas A&M Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas beat Texas A&M 73-62 Saturday to remain undefeated at Bud Walton Arena in conference play and close out the regular season.
Five Razorbacks scored in double figures against the Aggies. Junior guard Mardracus Wade led the team with 14 points and freshman Michael Qualls added a career-high 13 points. Rashad Madden scored 11, while Anthlon Bell and Marshawn Powell each added 10.
The Arkansas defense was on display Saturday as it was in its previous home win against Kentucky. Last week against the Wildcats, the Razorbacks scored 30 points off turnovers and were able to do much of the same against the Aggies. Arkansas (19-12, 10-8 Southeastern Conference) scored 22 points off 23 Texas A&M turnovers .
The Aggies (17-14, 7-11 SEC) trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half, but went into the break on a 13-2 run to cut Arkansas' lead to 33-26 at halftime.
In the second half, the Razorbacks used a 13-2 run run over the span of 4:05 to extend its lead to 57-41 at the 9:26 mark.
Arkansas hit seven free throws in the stretch and finished the game 28 of 36 at the free throw line, after making just 5 of 13 shots at the line Tuesday in a 93-63 loss to Missouri.
Texas A&M's leading scorer, Elston Turner, missed the game with a a hand injury he suffered Wednesday in a loss to LSU. Turner averaged 17.7 points per game this season.
Arkansas also began the game with its top two scorers on the bench. Neither BJ Young nor Powell started Saturday, marking the first time in 31 games this season that Powell was not a member of the Razorbacks' starting five.
The Newport News, Va. native logged 24 minutes and recorded 10 points and 5 rebounds, but Young played just 11 minutes and finished with just 2 points. Young scored 27 Tuesday in the loss to Missouri.
Wade scored the Razorbacks' first points in both periods by answering a Texas A&M layup with a 3-point basket to begin each half.
Mike Anderson earned his first win against Texas A&M Saturday and the Razorbacks improved to 34-4 at Bud Walton Arena in his two seasons as Arkansas' head coach.
The SEC Tournament begins Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. Arkansas will face Vanderbilt on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
