FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas used a career day off the bench from Arizona State transfer Jalen Graham to get back on track in SEC play.
The 6-9 forward scored a career-high 26 points on 12 of 15 from the field and the Razorbacks soundly beat Florida 84-65 in Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas improved to 18-9 overall and 7-7 in SEC play with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
In addition to his big day scoring, Graham matched a season high with two blocks and grabbed seven rebounds. He led the charge as the Razorbacks scored 52 points in the paint and got 45 points from their bench.
"Bench play was excellent. Jalen Graham had great matchups tonight and he certainly capitalized big time from an offensive standpoint," Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said. "And then I thought Jalen did a really good job on the glass with seven boards and two blocked shots."
The Razorbacks put four other players in double figures — Anthony Black 14, Nick Smith 10, Ricky Council 15 and Makhi Mitchell 10. Mitchell also finished with 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Council finished 6 of 10 from the field in his first game off the bench since Jan. 11 against Alabama. He scored 15 points in that game, as well.
"He's a scorer by nature and certainly felt like he came in with the right mentality," Musselman said. "I'm old and old school. We had everybody but two players here way, way, way earlier than report time tonight. I can tell you Ricky was here really early.
"We talked at the 70-minute mark or 80 minutes before tipoff that Ricky's approach showing up that early knowing that he wasn't going to start, it didn't effect him at all. That's what we want from a player. He knows the confidence we have in him."
The Razorbacks trailed by as many as five points a handful of times in the first half as Florida made 7 of 9 field goal attempts over a six-minute stretch. They found a rhythm, though, after a 2-of-9 shooting start.
Smith, making his first start since Dec. 17 against Bradley, bookended a 14-2 Arkansas run with a pair of and-1s in transition. Council had two buckets in the run, and Black and Graham each pitched in a score.
Graham then closed the first half by scoring six of Arkansas’ last seven points. The Razorbacks led 37-31 at the break.
"I was just confident today," Graham said. "I knew in my mind that if it was anybody out there, I just felt like I was confident I could get to my spots, rise up. Today, it was just a good day, good feeling.
"Throughout this whole practice, whole week, I was confident."
Arkansas’ first-half defense was stellar down the stretch. It forced the Gators into a miss on 13 of their final 15 field goal attempts, and they shot 30% as a team prior to halftime.
The Razorbacks, who shot 57.6%, wasted no time blowing the game wide open in the second half.
Freshman wing Jordan Walsh knocked down Arkansas’ first three-pointer of the day to make it a nine-point game. The score kickstarted a 17-2 run over the first 5:48.
Graham gave the Razorbacks a 21-point lead with 14:12 remaining after a layup and dunk following a quick spin move along the baseline. Arkansas led by as many as 25 points in the win.
"I thought we were flying around," Musselman said. "We were diving on the floor, getting loose balls, the guys were having fun and they were competing. I think it was really important.
"This game is behind us, and now you’ve got to focus on the next game on your schedule."
Playing without All-SEC-caliber forward Colin Castleton for the first time since he broke his hand earlier this week in a win over Ole Miss, Florida struggled mightily offensively and protecting the rim.
The Gators shot 37.3% as a team and committed 12 turnovers, including 9 in the second half. The Razorbacks were 32 of 49 on two-point attempts and a combined 19 of 28 on layups and dunks, according to StatBroadcast data.
"The first 10 minutes of the second half was disappointing," Florida coach Todd Golden said. "I didn’t feel we came out with that same enthusiasm and that same energy, and a good team like Arkansas is going to take advantage of you when you do that.
"That beginning of the second half was what ultimately was kind of our death blow today."
Florida was led by freshman guard Riley Kugel, who finished with 17 points on 5 of 12 from the floor.
Arkansas returns to action Tuesday against Georgia at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on SEC Network.