FAYETTEVILLE — It’s not often that a guy who played only seven minutes of a 40-minute game would be labeled as a hero, but that was the case Tuesday night with lightly-used Arkansas forward Ethan Henderson.
Henderson had 2 points, 3 blocks and 4 rebounds in a first-half stint that jump-started the unbeaten Razorbacks to a 69-61 win over Austin Peay before 11,995 fans at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas was tied 16-16 when Henderson entered the game with both Adrio Bailey and Reggie Chaney in foul trouble. He helped surge the Razorbacks to a 30-23 advantage with just under two minutes left in the half.
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman called Henderson's play "phenomenal."
“Cannot give Ethan enough credit," Musselman said. "I thought that - you know it’s interesting - the crowd here is smart, the crowd here has high basketball IQ...they knew that Ethan came in with incredible energy and enthusiasm and played with great effort. And it’s no surprise that our crowd got into the game when Ethan came in. He looked fresher than the rest of our team.
"Give him a lot of credit. He blocked shots, he almost led us in rebounding and he only played seven minutes. He did a great job for us.
“He left his feet a couple of times which a young player who hasn’t gotten a lot of experience you would expect. But just mentally to be ready to play at that juncture of the game when Adrio and Reggie both had foul trouble, I can’t compliment Ethan enough.”
Henderson played 28 minutes as a freshman last regular season, then had six points and five rebounds in the NIT win at Providence.
The former Little Rock Parkview star was the top recruit in Arkansas in 2018, according to ESPN's rankings, and averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game his senior season.
“He’s really worked hard behind closed doors and continues, he’s out there shooting right now (in Bud Walton Arena) working on his perimeter shot,” Musselman said. “ I just want him to continue working and having a great attitude which he has exhibited. Because he hasn’t been given much opportunity and he came in tonight and he produced and he put himself in a better position than maybe he was going into the game. And I give him a lot of credit because that’s not easy to do.”
Austin Peay head coach Matt Figger was impressed with Henderson’s minutes.
“I think he was probably the savior of the first half for them because they had all their front-court guys in foul trouble and we were getting some momentum going,” Figger said. “I thought his seven minutes gave them the interior spark that they needed.
“I thought he was very productive, protected the rim a few times, got some rebounds and did a pretty good job for them.”
Jimmy Whitt led the way for Arkansas with 17 points while Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe had 16 each.
“Ethan came in big,” Joe said. “He brought energy. He rebounded. He played tremendous defense. That’s exactly what we expect from Ethan whenever he comes into the game. If he can play like all year, he’s going to earn his minutes and he’s going to help us tremendously.”
Jones agreed that Henderson’s energy slapped some life into the Razorbacks. He was happy he had a chance to slam home a rebound basket.
“Ethan was great tonight,” Jones said. “I loved the energy that he brought. The dunk kind of surprised me. That was high school Ethan I was hearing about. So it was good to see him out there having fun, grabbing rebounds, just showing glimpses of what he can do to help us this year. I’m really excited for Ethan and I hope he can continue this."
Henderson could come into play Saturday when Arkansas travels to face Western Kentucky (6-3) in a 6 p.m. game.
Western Kentucky has lost its last two games - 71-54 to No. 1 Louisville in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 29, and 76-74 to Wright State 76-74 on Tuesday.
The Hilltoppers battered visiting Austin Peay, 97-75, on Nov. 9, and won 78-77 at Arkansas last season.
WKU is led by 6-11, 230-pound sophomore center and NBA prospect Charles Bassey (15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds), 6-3 graduate transfer guard Camron Justice (13.4), and 6-2 junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth (12.4).
Figger said WKU is experienced and can create a good home-court environment.
“They have got a good guard in Cameron Justice, who can shoot it. (Taveion) Hollingworth can score," Figger said. "They are a high field goal percentage team, but I think the way (the Razorbacks) guard that the key will be keeping Bassey out of the paint and off the glass.”