FAYETTEVILLE — The season-high 10,059 fans that showed up at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday night got a good look at a pair of freshmen who could have bright futures for Arkansas.
Adrio Bailey had a team-high 14 points in addition to seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal while fellow newcomer C.J. Jones added 11 points as the Razorbacks hammered Austin Peay 99-62 Saturday night.
Those two joined senior guard Dusty Hannahs (13 points) in powering an effort that outscored the visitors 55-12 in bench points.
“He just got a chance to go play,” Anderson said of Bailey. “I’ve been saying all along, ‘I’ve got to get him out there on the floor.’ I think he’s a highlight waiting to happen. He’s been practicing well, been practicing with more consistency. Hopefully in the games he can be more consistent.
“I think the last game he played in, I thought he played well, but he got in foul trouble. He had four fouls. It’s a learning curve for him and a guy like CJ. As they learn, then you’ll start seeing them get out there and play more.”
The high-flying Bailey - who had just two points and three rebounds in his first five games of the season - knocked down his first six shots before having his last one rim out.
It was not surprising to the Campti, La., Lakeview prep standout, who had played just 31 minutes all season before playing 18 in Saturday’s win.
“Not really,” Bailey said. “If you come in every day and work in practice, sooner or later it is going to happen the way we put in work every day.”
“Coach always says I’m the guy that can come in the game with the energy so I just tried to bring energy off the bench.”
Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos - who is in his 27th year as head coach of the Governors - admits to being surprised about Bailey.
"A guy that we knew only a little about had a good game," Loos said.
Anderson was asked if he thought Bailey had similarities to former Razorback Michael Qualls.
“There’s a lot of features… I think he’s probably built a little stronger than Mike is,” Anderson said. “Has a great pair of hands. There’s some similarities to that.
To me, he’s an exciting player and that’s the thing I like about it. He was blocking shots, rebounding. He had his career high tonight and hopefully we’ll see more of that. All that can do is build confidence in a guy like that. C.J. comes out and I thought he played well for us, as well.”
Jones - now 8 of 13 from 3-point range on the season - was 4 of 6 overall and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc on Saturday night.
Bailey noted that Arkansas was not going to let up after going into halftime with a 41-31 lead.
“We just decided to keep our foot on the pedal and not just let up,” Bailey said. “Just keep our feet on the pedal and don’t let them get nothing.”
He also chipped in on defense in a 21-0 run in the second half that blew the game open.
“I feel like our defense tonight was awesome honestly,” junior guard Jaylen Barford said. “From the starting line up to whoever played on the bench, it was just contagious. Our defense tonight was probably the best we played all year.”