A dominating third quarter helped the University of Arkansas basketball team beat Orange 1 Basket Bassano 75-54 on Saturday in Como, Italy, in the Razorbacks’ third exhibition game of their European tour.
The Razorbacks outscored Bassano 24-9 in the third quarter to stretch their halftime lead from 41-30 to 65-39.
“We knew it was time to make a run,” freshman guard Anthony Black said.
Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman went with a lineup of Black, guards Nick Smith and Davonte “Devo” Davis and forwards Trevon Brazile and Kamani Johnson to start the third quarter.
“The five guys out there to start the third quarter, quite frankly, as they left the locker room I told the staff, ‘Watch what happens to the score,’ ” Musselman said. “It was zero shock what that group went out and did.
“That’s why that group was put out there in the third quarter — to slam the door shut as quick as we possibly could in the second half.”
Brazile, a 6-10 sophomore transfer from Missouri, opened the third quarter with a score in the lane and Smith, a 6-5 freshman, ended it with a three-pointer with one second left.
Smith’s driving basket started a 16-0 run that pushed Arkansas’ lead to 62-35.
The Razorbacks hit 11 of 18 shots in the third quarter and finished 32 of 68 (47.1%) for the game.
“I really liked how Devo, A.B. and Nick played together,” Musselman said. “When we had them in, one of the first things I said was, ‘Hey, you guys just kind of share the point guard position.’
“ ‘Nobody is really the point. Whoever is the closest to an outlet pass [take the point].’
“They did a phenomenal job — thinking that it’s only three games in — of sharing it and running different things for each other.
“I’m really happy with how they executed together. Three point guards on the floor at one time.”
Smith had 20 points, 4 steals and 3 assists. He hit 8 of 14 shots, including 2 of 4 three-pointers, and 2 of 2 free throws.
Black, who is 6-7, had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Davis, a 6-4 junior, had 6 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
“It’s been pretty easy getting used to it because we are three competitive dudes who want to win,” Black said of sharing the point guard duties with Davis and Smith. “It’s no envy or none of that on the court.
“Whoever is close to the ball can get it and take it up. On defense, whoever is closest to the [opposing point guard] can call him out and guard him.
“Playing with two dudes who are versatile like that makes it a lot easier for our team. For each of us, it’s easier on us having two other dudes who can pretty much do a lot of things.”
Brazile had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in 16 minutes. He hit 4 of 4 shots to improve to 16 of 19 in Arkansas’ three exhibition games, but his rebounding stood out after he had one in Arkansas’ 99-86 victory over Catalan Elite on Thursday.
Musselman said Brazile was checking with assistant coach Anthony Ruta during Saturday’s game to find out how many rebounds he had grabbed.
“I’m cool with that,” Musselman said. “If that’s what helps motivate a guy to get them, I’ll hold the doggone board up every time he gets one — one, two, three.
“Maybe we should put it on the big board in Bud Walton [Arena]. Every time he gets a rebound, we put it on the big board if that can help motivate him to get more.
“But did a phenomenal job rebounding, running the floor and finishing.”
Johnson, a 6-7 senior, had 7 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior 6-5 guard Ricky Council had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists and 6-6 freshman Barry Dunning had 7 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds.
The Razorbacks had 18 steals among 26 turnovers they forced. They scored 29 points off turnovers and held Bassano to 30.2% shooting (16 of 53).
Catalan Elite shot 48.3% (28 of 58) and hit 20 of 29 free throws against the Razorbacks.
“We still have a long way to go on some things, but much, much improved defensively,” Musselman said. “Our defensive intensity was really good.”
Black said the Razorbacks saw in film study that they needed to make some adjustments on defense.
“Really just the technique and playing a lot harder on defense is what we focused on,” Black said. “We just have to do a better job of playing solid, myself included. Not fouling as much, not reaching.”
The Razorbacks had 12 hours between the time they met for breakfast, left their hotel in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday morning, flew to Milan, Italy, bused to Lake Como and tipped off against Bassano.
“It was not an easy travel day,” said Musselman, who coached in the NBA, CBA and G League. “It was a typical NBA, G League travel day, so it was really good for our guys to experience that.
“We went from one country to another country. Our bags were not here when we arrived.
“All of our basketballs were lost. One of our players, they’re still searching for his luggage.
“I was proud that nobody used any of that as an excuse at all.”
The Razorbacks jumped out to an 11-2 lead on Saturday and never trailed. Against Catalan Elite, they fell behind 28-20 in the first quarter.
“I think a lot of guys were disappointed in their last game,” Musselman said. “I think that we were a more focused team and played with much more of a purpose, maybe, than the other night.”
The Razorbacks forced 10 turnovers in the third quarter when they took total control of the game.
“We’re trying to be a top-10 defensive team this year — really No. 1,” Dunning said. “I feel like it’s an expectation.
“We just play hard every day. We’re dogs and we dig and we dig and we dig and get down and dirty just trying to get it defensively.”