Why Arkansas Won
The Razorbacks had great efforts on offense and defense. Arkansas hit 52.5 percent of its field goal attempts and limited Wake Forest to 32 percent from the field. The Razorbacks converted 22 forced turnovers into 33 points.
Why Wake Forest Lost
The Demon Deacons had no answer when Arkansas went on a 15-0 run early in the first half. Wake Forest struggled offensively. Its only made 3-pointer came on its 15th and final attempt from beyond the arc.
Player of the Game
It's a toss-up, but point guard Jabril Durham had an efficient outing for the Razorbacks. The junior finished with 6 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes. Durham had a couple of key assists to spark Arkansas' first half run, including a lob pass off a steal that resulted in a Jacorey Williams dunk.
Play of the Game
Arkansas' hustle was displayed during a sequence that capped its 15-0 run in the first half. Moses Kingsley blocked a shot by Madison Jones that Ky Madden jumped to save from going out of bounds. Jacorey Williams caught the ball and passed it ahead to Anton Beard, who hit a 3-pointer in transition. The basket gave the Razorbacks a 25-10 lead.
Tough at Home
Remember that stretch five years ago when Arkansas lost three straight home games to Morgan State, East Tennessee State and South Alabama?
Those days are long gone. Under fourth-year coach Mike Anderson, the Razorbacks have become so good at home that wins like Wednesday's seem routine.
Arkansas improved to 31-0 against unranked nonconference opponents under Anderson at Bud Walton Arena. Anderson's Razorbacks are 53-6 at home and have won eight straight in Fayetteville.
Late Show
Wednesday's late tip time left several fans watching from home.
Arkansas sold 14,574 tickets to the game, but the school's estimated actual attendance was a little over 9,100. The Razorbacks reported earlier Wednesday that 10,150 season tickets have been sold this year.
The game against Wake Forest was the first of seven that will be played at Bud Walton Arena at 8 p.m. or later on a weeknight to accommodate TV. Eleven of Arkansas' 31 games this season will be played with a tip-off time of 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Breaking the trend
The home team had never won in Arkansas' series with Wake Forest prior to Wednesday.
The Razorbacks lost to the Demon Deacons at Bud Walton Arena in 1999 and 2001. Wake Forest also beat Arkansas in Little Rock in 1982.
The teams have twice played in North Carolina. Arkansas beat Wake Forest on campus in 1998 and in Greensboro in 1983.
Wake Forest also beat Arkansas in the 1977 NCAA Tournament in Norman, Oklahoma.
Hog Debuts
Freshmen Nick Babb and Trey Thompson saw their first playing time of the season Wednesday.
Babb hit two shots, including a 3-pointer, to finish with five points. Thompson missed both of his field goal attempts in six minutes off the bench.
Arkansas' five newcomers combined to score 21 points.
By the Numbers
9,107 - Estimated actual attendance at Bud Walton Arena
100 - Number of games at Arkansas as head coach for Mike Anderson
61 - Wins for Mike Anderson as Razorbacks head coach
44 - Defensive deflections for Arkansas
31 - Seconds Arkansas trailed Wake Forest
22 - Most minutes by a Razorbacks player
13 - Number of Arkansas players who got in the game
12 - Number of Razorbacks who scored
11 - Wake Forest assists, compared to 20 turnovers
8 - Straight Arkansas wins at home
1 - Number of made 3-pointers in 15 attempts for Wake Forest