Jones provides needed spark
In desperate need of a spark after yet another sluggish start offensively, sophomore guard Mason Jones came through. Jones finished with a game-high 21 points in Arkansas' 73-70 win over a Texas State team that just wouldn't quit.
The junior college transfer did a lot of his damage at the line, cashing in on 10/13 attempts in the win, but it was his steal after the Razorbacks fell behind 19-6 that essentially turned the game on its head and kickstarted what would become a 17-0 run to regain the lead and control of the game.
Just a few nights removed from launching 13 3-pointers in the loss to Georgia Tech, Jones took only three 3s against the Bobcats and instead hurt Texas State off the dribble, finishing 5/7 looks from inside the arc. His 21 points matched a career-high set Nov. 12 against UC Davis.
With 5:55 to play, Texas State pulled within just two points after a pair of Jaylen Shead free throws, but Jones answered back with seven straight points, including an and-1 on the Razorbacks' ensuing possession.
After picking himself up off the floor, forward Gabe Osabuohien gave Jones an approving slap on the back of the head, and Jones shrugged his shoulders with confidence.
"Coach A told me to step up," Jones said after the game. "So I felt like I needed to step up to the table. I was that guy today. Make the right plays at the right time when we needed it."
Where would Arkansas be if not for Jones this season? That may be a question fans are better off not knowing the answer to. He has without question been one of the more pleasant surprises of the nonconference schedule.
Another Gafford double-double
Aiding Jones and his big day, Daniel Gafford turned in another strong performance against the outmatched Bobcats.
Gafford recorded his fifth double-double of the season in the win, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore also deserves his props for having a solid game at the line, where he shot 9/14. The nine makes at the line ties a career high.
Gafford scored 11 points on 4/5 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds in the first half, and chipped in eight more and four rebounds after the break. For the game, he was a team-best plus-13. He has now reached double figures in scoring in each of Arkansas' 11 games this season.
For all the flack Gafford can receive - and rightfully so at times - he is averaging 16.3 points per game in December with one game to go, and has grabbed no less than eight rebounds in each game this month. He has been nothing if not consistent through 11 games, and that shouldn't be overlooked.
With a monster game against Austin Peay to close out the pre-New Year schedule, Gafford could head into Southeastern Conference play averaging a double-double.
Osabuohien's impact
Mike Anderson always likes to get a jolt from his bench, and Osabuohien certainly gave him one on Saturday.
Some of the things he does - take charges, pass deflections - will not necessarily show up in the stat sheet, but they absolutely make an impact on the game. Against Texas State, Osabuohien knocked down his second three of the season and his career, grabbed five rebound and dished out four assists.
"Gabe was great tonight," Mason Jones said. "He had a couple rebounds that probably aren’t going to show up on the stat sheet, but it was a good couple rebounds that led out to shots that we made. Good pass to Daniel that got us a little momentum."
Anderson obviously liked what the Ontario native was providing seeing that he played 22 minutes, the most he's played in a game this season outside of the 121-89 win over FIU to begin the month. He effectively found Gafford on great entry passes and, most impressively, skied for a tough rebound off a Texas State miss and hit a guard for an outlet pass that ultimately resulted in a Gafford and-1 that tied the game 19-19 after the Razorbacks fell behind by 13 early.
“He has got a pretty good grasp of basketball,” Anderson said. “The key is going out and doing it each and every night. Tonight he did a good job of seeing if Dan was sealing, and Dan did a good job of going and getting it."
Chaney up and down in first start
With Adrio Bailey in an obvious and apparent funk of late, Anderson elected to give freshman forward Reggie Chaney his first career start on Saturday.
Anderson hinted at the possibility of a lineup shakeup on Thursday, and the writing was on the wall that Chaney would take Bailey's spot.
It didn't start off great. Chaney turned the ball over on Arkansas' first possession of the game, and he ended up with five turnovers in the win in only 12 minutes. Anderson attributed the miscues to a case of nerves.
However, Chaney did impact the game when he was decisive and active. He was 3/4 from the floor and scored seven points - all in the second half as Bailey took his place in the starting lineup after halftime. Chaney did not miss a shot after the break, grabbed four rebounds and also blocked a shot.
With time, Chaney will become a terrific player. He already has some instincts and abilities you just can't teach. He will continue to settle in with more playing time and I still have no doubt he and Gafford will develop into a terrorizing tandem before the season is over.