FAYETTEVILLE — Jaylen Barford scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half to lead Arkansas to its fourth straight win, 94-75 over No. 21 Texas A&M on Saturday.
The triumph was the 10th straight over the Aggies in Fayetteville for the Razorbacks (19-8, 8-6 Southeastern Conference), who lost 80-66 in College Station on Jan. 30. It was also Arkansas' third home win over a ranked opponent this season, joining victories over Minnesota and Tennessee.
Barford added five rebounds and five assists for the Razorbacks, who have won seven of their last nine. Daryl Macon finished with 20 points for Arkansas, the eighth time in the last nine games he's scored 20 or more.
Freshman Daniel Gafford scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and C.J. Jones had 13 points for the Razorbacks.
Robert Williams had 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead Texas A&M (17-10, 6-8), which lost its second straight after entering the rankings this week. The 6-foot-10 sophomore also had three blocks and finished 10 of 13 from the field.
Admon Gilder also scored 20 points for the Aggies. Tyler Davis added 15 points and T.J. Starks had 12.
BIG PICTURE
Texas A&M: The last time the Aggies won in Fayetteville was March 1, 1986, when both teams were members of the Southwest Conference and Arkansas still played in Barnhill Arena. They led only once on Saturday, a 4-2 advantage that disappeared quickly after the Razorbacks went on an 11-0 run. Texas A&M was 0 of 7 on 3-pointers while trailing 43-32 at halftime, and it just avoided matching its season low for 3-pointers — finishing 4 of 17 as a team.
Arkansas: The win starts a difficult five-game stretch to end the regular season for Arkansas, which entered Saturday 32nd in the NCAA's RPI ratings. Beginning with the 18th-rated Aggies, the Razorbacks face teams all 31st or higher in the ratings during the five games — including Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn and Missouri. They started the stretch in dominating fashion on Saturday, a key victory for a team hoping to reach the NCAA Tournament for a third time in four seasons this year.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M returns home to face Mississippi State on Tuesday.
The Razorbacks host Kentucky on Tuesday.
EARLIER
Arkansas 94, Texas A&M 75 - Final
Arkansas got big efforts from the usual suspects today - Barford 21, Macon 20, Gafford 18 - and C.J. Jones added 13 as the Hogs cruised to their fourth straight win.
Robert Williams and Admon Gilder each scored 20 points for the Aggies in a losing effort. Williams also collected 14 rebounds. Tyler Davis added 15 points and seven rebounds.
Arkansas is now 42-5 in Bud Walton Arena on Saturdays under Mike Anderson and have knocked off three ranked opponents at home for the first time in six years.
Arkansas 87, Texas A&M 69 - 3:53 left
Jaylen Barford got the shooter's touch on a left-wing 3, then Daryl Macon found Daniel Gafford underneath for an and-1 dunk over Tyler Davis.
The Hogs appear to be heading toward their fourth straight win heading into Tuesday's game against Kentucky. Barford is up to 21 points for the game and Gafford has 18. Macon has 17 as well.
Arkansas 77, Texas A&M 61 - 7:00 left
Jaylen Barford has been putting on a show in the last few minutes. He used a Dustin Thomas pick to get to the rim and throw one down, then stepped out beyond the 3-point line late in the shot clock, connecting on his third triple of the game, to put the Hogs up 18. Barford and Daniel Gafford each have 16 points, while Daryl Macon has 14 and C.J. Jones 11.
Robert Williams has been flat out incredible for A&M today. He has 18 points on 9 of 12 from the floor to go with 13 rebounds. He's three points and three boards shy of tying his career high, and he just might do it.
Arkansas 51, Texas A&M 43 - 15:56 left
Daniel Gafford will be at the line following the break after a nice entry feed from Anton Beard. Gafford has a team-high 12 points.
The Aggies, after not hitting a single 3 in the first half, have knocked down a pair to remain within striking distance. Admon Gilder has both triples.
Dustin Thomas is 3 of 4 on midrange jumpshots today. After knocking down his last one, which put Arkansas up 51-40, he immediately committed his fourth foul with better than 16 minutes to play.
Arkansas 43, Texas A&M 32 - Half
No one Arkansas player is dominating the game, but the Razorbacks did get solid halves from a number of guys. Six players totaled at least five points, led by Daniel Gafford's 10. Jaylen Barford has seven and Gabe Osabuohien has a career-high six points as well.
Robert Williams has to be impressing every single NBA scout in the building today. He has 10 points on four dunks and eight rebounds at the break. He was, though, whistled for goaltending on Gafford's last-second floater at the end of the first half. Tyler Davis has 12 points - 8 of 13 at the line - to go with four rebounds.
Only four Aggies players have scored so far. Williams and Davis are a combined 7 of 11 from the floor while the rest of the team is 4 of 15.
Arkansas 35, Texas A&M 25 - 3:36 left first half
The Aggies have been living at the free throw line in the first half. Tyler Davis will be at the line when play resumes. It will be his 11th and 12th attempts of the game.
Daryl Macon was whistled for a flagrant 1 foul on Texas A&M's Admon Gilder a bit earlier. The Razorbacks have led by as many as 13 points following an Anton Beard 3.
Arkansas 28, Texas A&M 21 - 7:02 left first half
Dustin Thomas is now 2 of 2 on midrange jumpers and C.J. Jones has provided a lift off the bench with six points in six minutes. Jones was fouled shooting a 3, made 2 of 3 free throws, knocked down a long 2 and converted a layup in transition.
Texas A&M's Tyler Davis has seven points so far. He's connected on 5 of 6 free throws after entering the game a 65 percent shooter. Robert Williams have six rebounds to go with six points.
Arkansas 18, Texas A&M 14 - 11:31 left first half
The Aggies used some sloppy play from Arkansas to reel off an 8-3 run to pull within two points before a Dustin Thomas midrange jumper got Arkansas back on track.
Texas A&M is outscoring Arkansas 6-0 in fastbreak points so far and holds a 10-6 edge in points in the paint.
Arkansas 11, Texas A&M 4 - 16:00 left first half
The Razorbacks have the sold out Bud Walton Arena crowd in a frenzy early on thanks to a 4 of 6 start from the floor. Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford have combined for three triples in the opening four minutes.
Play had to be stopped twice to tend to an issue with Dustin Thomas' right hand. He had the hand wrapped, then re-wrapped and had to be removed from the game just more than three minutes in. He was replaced by freshman Gabe Osabuohien.
The Aggies have started the game 1 of 4 from the floor with a pair of turnovers. Tyler Davis (0/2 FG) has two points, both at the foul line.
Pregame
Arkansas will start with Daryl Macon, Jaylen Barford, Anton Beard, Dustin Thomas and Daniel Gafford.
Texas A&M counters with Tyler Davis, D.J. Hogg, TJ Starks, Robert Williams and Admon Gilder.