Notebook: Jones builds on breakout

Arkansas guard C.J. Jones, center, dunks against Connecticut during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

— Arkansas sophomore guard C.J. Jones was forced into a bigger role after senior Daryl Macon’s ankle injury against North Carolina and finished with a career-high 12 points on 4 of 10 shooting from 3-point range in a career-best 26 minutes.

He bettered that Sunday, scoring 19 on just eight shots in 21 minutes, providing a big scoring boost off the bench for the Razorbacks.

“We’ve seen what he’s capable of doing,” Anderson said.

“As I went down yesterday, he had to step up and I think that was big for him, got his confidence back,” Macon said. “He was making shots yesterday, he came in making shots today.”

Jones made 5 of 8 shots and got to the line six times, where he made all six, after attempting just one free throw in the Hogs’ first five games. He got into the passing lanes on one play, deflecting a ball and finishing a break on the other end with a one-handed slam.

Most importantly, he shot the ball well from range. He knocked down 3 of 6 3-pointers, making him 7 of 16 in the final two games in Portland after hitting just 2 of 10 in the first four games of the year.

“C.J.’s a great player,” Macon said. “If he continues doing what he’s doing now, he’ll develop as far as when me and Jaylen (Barford) leave, it’ll be time for him to step up.

Gafford fouls

Foul trouble continued to be an issue for Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford on the trip.

For the second straight game, the issue popped up quickly in the first half for the freshman center. Gafford picked up two fouls in three minutes against North Carolina on Friday. Sunday, he picked up his second and third fouls in the span of 30 seconds late in the first half.

He wound up fouling out of the blowout win Sunday after an otherwise impressive 14 minutes, during which he scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds and finished three emphatic dunks.

“I thought he played well today, with the exception of a couple times when he had the ball, they took it from him and like most freshmen, they’re going to try to get it back,” Anderson said. “You have a mistake and then you double that mistake. He had two fouls just like that.

“I thought he did a much better job in the second half just using his length to make them shoot shots over him. And as a big guy, they’re going to attack you. So he’s got to figure out some things and the only way he’s going to figure them out is through playing.”

Gafford is averaging 4.3 fouls per game so far this season and fouled out of the first two games in addition to Sunday. He was whistled for four fouls in both the OU and UNC games.

“Having an opportunity to come play at this level, to play against the big bodies that he’s played against, it can only benefit him as we move forward,” Anderson said. “At 6-11 and doing the things he can do, run the floor, got a great pair of hands.

“He’ll continue to get stronger and trust me, the basketball IQ will continue to get sharper for him.”

Solid Hall

Arkansas freshman wing Darious Hall was solid in 14 minutes after playing just 12 in the first two games.

The 6-foot-6 Little Rock native produced seven points and six rebounds while contributing solid defense on the other end of the court. On offense, he had a few nice finishes at the rim and knocked down his first college 3-pointer on his third attempt this year.

“They’ve got to learn from those mistakes and I thought we saw that each and every game, especially for Darious,” Anderson said. “This was a great game for Darious to come out and play well.”

Macon misses

Macon made 4 of 6 free throws, missing his first two foul shots this year and snapping a streak of 24 made foul shots dating back to last season.

He entered the game 17 of 17 from the line this season, but missed his first foul shot of the day at the 11:26 mark of the first half.

Holmes time

Arkansas walk-ons Jonathan Holmes and JT Plummer both got a chance to play with the game out of reach late.

Holmes played the final 3:43 and scored his second basket of the year on a nifty up-and-under move after grabbing an offensive rebound.

“Shout out to Jonny though,” Barford said. “Ya’ll don’t know Jonny like I know Jonny. That’s my boy.”

Arkansas was assessed a technical foul with 31 seconds left when Plummer, a former manager, checked in because he wasn’t listed in the official scorer’s book. He wound up with the ball in his hands on Arkansas' ensuing final possession and dribbled out the clock, taking a shot clock violation with the Hogs up big rather than attempt to score.

“He hasn’t realized yet that he’s a player instead of a manager, so we’re still trying to get him to shoot,” Barford said.

Both players have played in three games.

Barrett back

Regular Arkansas radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Barrett returned to the broadcast Sunday after flying into Portland on Saturday.

Barrett, also the football play-by-play man, had been in Fayetteville to call the Razorbacks’ 48-45 loss to Missouri on Friday. In his stead, Connecticut women’s play-by-play announcer Bob Joyce handled the Razorback play-by-play duties alongside color commentator Matt Zimmerman for the OU and UNC games.