Davis’ winning plays stand out in SEC debut

Arkansas guard Davonte Davis (4) defends Auburn guard Justin Powell during a game against the Tigers on Dec. 30, 2020, at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala.

FAYETTEVILLE — During halftime of Arkansas’ SEC opener at Auburn on Wednesday, Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman made a decision that would wind up paying big dividends.

With graduate transfer forward Justin Smith sidelined with a right ankle injury, he opted to give true freshman Davonte Davis his first extended run in three weeks against the Tigers. Then, with less than seven minutes to play and Arkansas clinging to a 76-74 lead, Jalen Tate picked up his fourth foul.

Suddenly, the Razorbacks needed Davis, making his debut in the SEC, to contribute at a critical juncture of the game. He did that and more.

His hustle, determination and handful of winning plays down the stretch made a difference in Arkansas’ 97-85 win, its ninth of the season. The Razorbacks outscored Auburn by nine points in Davis’ time in the lineup.

“I thought he was really, really important and vital in his 13 minutes that he played,” Musselman said Wednesday. “I thought he did a great job. He goes 2 for 3, made all the right decisions, was really, really, really good defensively for us.

“I thought he did a great job.”

Davis finished the game with four points, one assist, one rebound and two steals, but his impact was far greater than what showed up in the box score.

In the first half, he made a pair of hustle plays in the same sequence that eventually resulted in one of Desi Sills’ three 3-pointers in the final two minutes before halftime. Davis also assisted on a Sills 3 earlier in the first half.

Sills, who scored a career-high 23 points in the win, could not have been more proud of Davis’ contributions at Auburn.

“I feel like Devo Davis did what Devo Davis does – come in, get loose balls, rebound and play hard,” the junior added. “I feel like he helped us out a lot in this win, so big shoutout to Devo. I hope he keeps it up going into Missouri next game.”

When Tate was hit with foul No. 4, Musselman could have turned a number of directions in terms of a sub. Vance Jackson, a veteran, was an option, as was freshman KK Robinson. Or he could have kept Tate in the lineup and trusted him to not pick up his fifth foul.

The Razorbacks’ second-year coach quickly went to Davis with 6:55 to play, and the lanky guard proved his worth, aiding an 8-0 run to push Arkansas’ lead to double figures. In that 4:53 run, he was everywhere.

Among his winning plays during the stretch:

• Saving a missed 3-pointer along the baseline by flipping the ball over his head to Connor Vanover, who found Moses Moody under the rim. Moody made two free throws.

• Offensive rebounding a Sills missed free throw. Razorbacks guard JD Notae added a layup moments later.

• Stealing the ball from Tigers guard Justin Powell and finding Vanover at the rim in transition. Vanover was fouled and made two free throws.

• Forcing an Allen Flanigan turnover under the rim by not quitting on the play after momentarily getting caught up in a ballscreen. Davis hit a midrange jumper on Arkansas’ ensuing possession.

ESPN college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes, who was on the call for the game, said Davis’ hustle to create a turnover on Flanigan is one of the best individual defensive plays he has seen in college basketball this season.

“He’s going to get clipped by a screen, but he doesn’t give up on the play,” Dykes said. “He doesn’t shrink on the screen. He fights right back, he sprints to the point of attack, he gets his hand on the ball and saves a two — and maybe saved Arkansas winning this game. The kid had a chance to give up and shrink and absorb the screen.

“But he fought off of it, made a B-line for the basketball and had hot hands around it.”

Davis was tied for the team lead with 19 energy points against Auburn, according to a tweet from Arkansas director of recruiting Michael Musselman, and he led the way with four deflections.

Eric Musselman said Thursday he elected to sub Davis in for Tate late in the game in part because the freshman has performed well in practices and continues to get better on a daily basis.

“Devo was an excellent defender. He’s an excellent loose-ball getter (and he rebounds well) for his position,” he added. “He’s a very good pick-and-roll defender because he seems to figure out how not to get screened.

“I think he’s earned the right for us to feel really comfortable putting him in the game.”