FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas finally found its shooting touch Monday night. Wisconsin-Milwaukee never did.
The Razorbacks warmed up enough to post an 84-54 victory over the Panthers before an announced crowd of 7,725 at Walton Arena.
Arkansas ended up shooting 44.8 percent in their final game before getting a short Christmas break, and shot 48.3 percent from the field (29 of 60), including 50 percent (17 of 34) in the second half, after starting the game 1 of 7.
"I think everybody was just ready and eager to not only get the win, but go home," Arkansas junior guard Michael Qualls said. "You come out a little sluggish, but then after a while you realize you have to pick up a sense of urgency.
"Every game is a big game, and we still need the W, so we just had to come out and put our stamp on the game."
UW-Milwaukee, which also started 1 of 7 from the field, shot 28.8 percent (15 of 52) for the game, including 7 of 26 in the second half, and had 19 turnovers.
"I thought we did a good job of D-ing them up and taking Milwaukee out of what they wanted to do," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "Sometimes when you don't make shots early, you start letting things happen on the defensive end, but we didn't.
"I thought our defense continued to be strong throughout the whole game."
Sophomore forward Bobby Portis led Arkansas (9-2) with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists in 26 minutes without a turnover. He hit was 7 of 14 from the field and 4 of 4 free throws.
"At 6-11 with his ability to shoot from the outside and finish around the basket, he's definitely a talent," Panthers Coach Rob Jeter said. "There aren't lot of negatives to say, other than ... I don't think I can pick out a negative right now.
"He's definitely a kid that has a chance to make some money playing basketball."
Portis, who has scored at least 18 points in the past five games, missed a jump shot and two layups in the game's first 1:38 before going 7 of 11 from the field the rest of the way.
"We were taking good shots, we just weren't making them," Portis said of the Razorbacks' slow start.
Jeter said he wasn't surprised Arkansas turned around its game offensively.
"They're a talented team," Jeter said. "So at some point, they're going to make some shots."
Qualls had 17 points. 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Arkansas senior guard Ky Madden had 15 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
The Razorbacks led 35-27 when they outscored UW-Milwaukee 14-4 over a 5:15 span -- with Qualls scoring six points and Portis four along with a three-point basket by Jabril Durham --to move ahead 49-31 with 14:14 left to end any upset hopes by the Panthers (5-8).
"I feel there are times when the team needs us to score," Portis said. "At certain moments, it is just time for us to put the ball in the hole."
UW-Milwaukee -- led by junior forward Matt Tiby's 15 points and senior guard Steve McWhorter's 13 -- was outscored 38-16 on points in the lane
. The Razorbacks had a 49-29 rebounding edge and 17 offensive rebounds to pound the Panthers 15-2 on second-chance points.
"When you start looking at the second-chance points and the offensive rebounds, they're just longer, more athletic and quicker to the ball than us," Jeter said.
Arkansas outscored UW-Milwaukee 49-30 in the second half.
"Eventually your offense is going to kick in," Anderson said. "In the second half it was much more of a free-flowing offensive game and we made shots."
Arkansas improved to 58-6 in Walton Arena in Anderson's four seasons, including 7-0 this season. The Razorbacks have won 21 consecutive games in Walton Arena since losing to No. 6 Syracuse 91-82 two years ago.
"Arkansas is one of the best teams in the country in this gym," Jeter said. "Their energy, their efficiency, is through the roof."
Anderson said it was a good overall performance by the Razorbacks.
"We weren't at our best, especially in the first half, but we found a way to grind it out," Anderson said. "We played at Milwaukee's pace in the first half. The second half was what I'd been looking for."
Sports on 12/23/2014