FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Razorbacks guard Daryl Macon shared SEC Player of the Week honors Monday with Auburn guard Mustapha Heron.
Macon had two more big games off the bench, averaging 23.5 points in victories over Georgia and Oklahoma State.
The 6-3 senior scored a game-high 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting in an 80-77 double-overtime victory at Georgia. Macon was 5 of 10 from three-point range and 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.
The Little Rock Parkview product had 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the Hogs' 66-65 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday, including 4-of-7 three-point shooting. Macon went 14 of 14 from the free-throw line in the two games.
"I just think he's playing some of his better basketball right now," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "I think he's more relaxed.
"Not only that, he's doing more than just scoring for us. He's playing efficient basketball. It just seems like he's having fun out there."
Macon said Saturday he's trying to show he can be productive whether he's in the starting lineup or coming off the bench.
"I feel like I've got something to prove still," Macon said. "I've still got this chip on my shoulder. Every night I'm going to try to come with it."
Macon's selection as SEC Player of the Week was his third this season and his fourth in two seasons, making him the first Razorback to pull off that feat.
Bench bash
Arkansas is 4-1 in its past five games with all of the victories coming in games in which senior guard Daryl Macon has come off the bench.
Arkansas' reserves have outscored their counterparts 139-55 in those games, including victories over Missouri, Ole Miss, Georgia and Oklahoma State.
Thomas tout
Senior Dustin Thomas contributed 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 of 6 free-throw shooting, 3 assists and a game-high 3 steals in the Razorbacks' victory over Oklahoma State. Thomas also provided the defense on Jeffrey Carroll, who missed a potential game-winning layup with about five seconds remaining.
Mike Anderson was asked whether it was the 6-8, 255-pounder's best game.
"When you talk about this year, without a doubt," Anderson said. "I thought he was active in all phases of the game. I think he even had some nice assists in the game. He played 25 minutes and it was efficient basketball. We expect that out of him."
On the down side, Thomas had three turnovers and Anderson said he could have been a little more active in the creases against the Oklahoma State zone.
"But I think he was active defensively, fixing things on defense," Anderson said. "As a coach you want consistency from guys where they're going to bring it night in and night out."
Plan for Dan
Mike Anderson said it is imperative for forward Daniel Gafford to be an integral part of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville offensive system. The 6-11 freshman has 6 points on 3-of-10 shooting in the past two games.
"We've got to establish him," Anderson said. "Right now guys are doubling him, and so he's got to be a guy that's a willing passer. A lot of times he's trying to fight through it, whether it's trying to score or holding onto it a little bit longer. Go ahead and move the basketball."
Anderson hopes Gafford's game-winning tip-in against Oklahoma State with 16 seconds remaining, his only possession on the court after picking up his fourth foul at the 5:52 mark, will get him turned around.
"I'm hoping it's big for him," Anderson said, "because he sat there and all of a sudden now you're in when it's really, really significant. It was a big moment, and I thought he came in and captured that moment.
"I know he had a big smile on his face after the game, so hopefully that'll get him more ready as we go down this stretch here."
Three spree
Guard Jaylen Barford is leading the SEC in three-point accuracy at 44.9 percent, while guard Daryl Macon ranks second in the league at 43.1 percent.
The two seniors are the only teammates from a high-major conference to rank 1-2 in their league in three-point shooting.
'T' talk
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said Saturday the foul call against Jaylen Barford that led to his technical foul in the second half should have been a play-on situation.
On Monday, Anderson did not want to discuss the technical foul whistled by Ron Groover on his senior guard.
"I don't even want to talk about it," Anderson said. "I do my investigation and that's what we're doing right now."
Barford's lips were difficult to read after the foul call on the perimeter, but his back was turned to Groover as he smacked one fist into his other palm.
Sports on 01/30/2018