FAYETTEVILLE — Early in the second of the Arkansas Razorbacks’ exhibition opener Friday, they scored on possessions that took just seven, one and four seconds, respectively.
Defense keyed that quick 7-0 burst to start the second half as the Razorbacks took a commanding 17-point lead over Central Oklahoma.
Playing with a short-handed roster, Arkansas couldn’t extend the lead. UCO even cut its deficit to six points with less than two minutes remaining, but the disruptive defense, along with playmaking from seniors Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford, were enough for the Razorbacks to hang on for a 78-66 win at Bud Walton Arena.
“I could tell our active-ness, because in the first half, I think we had 25 deflections,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “And not only were we deflecting the ball, we were coming up (with it). And then that first three-minute period (in the second half), we had eight more deflections and … you could just see the momentum really kind of building.
“Then I think we may have hit that wall.”
Macon scored a game-high 23 and dished five assists while Barford added 19 and six to help carry the undermanned roster, but defense was Arkansas’ calling card. The Division II Bronchos shot just 37 percent and turned the ball over 17 times leading to 17 Arkansas points off turnovers. The Razorbacks were at their best turning defense into offense, scoring 19 fast-break points and excelling when they pushed the pace.
“Their athleticism really bothered us, really hurt us,” UCO coach Tom Hankins said. “And then their size, their guards were way bigger.”
The biggest news of the evening was who wasn’t playing. Arkansas suited up just eight scholarship players.
Anderson had previously indicated senior forward Arlando Cook (suspended) and freshman guard Khalil Garland (medical condition) wouldn’t play, while sophomore guard Jalen Harris is sitting out during his transfer year. But the absences of senior forward Dustin Thomas and freshman guard Darious Hall were surprises.
Hall was held out after bumping his head in practice earlier in the week. Thomas was suspended for a violation of team rules, which Anderson said could mean he misses both exhibitions and “possibly three more” games.
“You’re a fifth-year senior, I think you should know,” Anderson said of Thomas. “You put your heart and soul and worked hard to get to this point and I think you let down your team.”
With the shortened bench, four players played at least 30 minutes for the Razorbacks, a toll that seemed to take effect in the latter stages of the second half as UCO provided a slight scare late, cutting the deficit to 72-66 with 1:25 left.
Macon and Barford answered by scoring six straight points to put the game out of reach after the Hogs turned it over 17 times and were shooting less than 40 percent for most of the second half as the starters’ minutes crept into the 30s.
“It affected us a lot,” Barford said of the absences. “(They bring) more energy, more rebounds, being more long and just being more fast-paced because we kind of had to pace ourselves.”
Arkansas freshman center Daniel Gafford didn’t have a huge stat line, finishing with eight points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. But the 6-foot-11, 234-pounder made his impact felt in other ways.
On his first defensive possession after checking in, Gafford used his length to tip away a post entry pass and force a turnover. The next trip down, Gafford showed on a screen and recovered in time to tip away another lob pass, again leading to a UCO turnover.
Arkansas outscored UCO by 17 with Gafford on the court, a mark that tied with Barford for the best on the team. He had seven points, four rebounds and provided solid rim protection during a seven-minute stretch late in the game, feasting against a Bronchos team without a player taller than 6-7 to help keep Arkansas in control.
“My first thought was, ‘Wow, that guy’s going to be really good,’” Hankins said. “He is really good, but his upside is really high. We don’t see long, bouncy athletes like that.”
Arkansas will host Missouri Western next Friday for its second and final exhibition before opening the season Nov. 10 at home against Samford.