Welcome again to UATV’s Arkansas Basketball blog. Tonight, the Hogs (13-12) will dip into the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division and host the South Carolina Gamecocks (14-10) tonight beginning at 8 p.m. CST. As usual, the blog will consists of live-updates from Bud Walton Arena every few minutes so be sure to refresh your screen through the contest. Thanks again for viewing and comments or questions are always welcomed.
7:36 p.m.- Both teams are currently on the court for pre-game warmups.
7:49 p.m.- We’re about ten minutes away from tip-off and the arena is still pretty empty. Looks like national anthem will be played on a keyboard tonight.
7:56 p.m.- Here come the Hogs!
8:00 p.m.- Tonight, 4-time NBA Champion, Will Purdue, will join Dave Baker on the broadcast for CSS.
8:06 p.m.- The Hogs win the tip-off and we’re underway tonight between the Hogs and Gamecocks.
8:11 p.m.- One player to keep an eye on during this game is forward Marshawn Powell. The man guarding him is listed at 6’5″, two inches shorter than what Powell is listed at. He already has six points early on.
8:17 p.m.- A combined four-straight three’s made by both teams making the score 17-14 in favor of the Gamecocks.
8:22 p.m.- We have a media timeout with 11:16 to play in the second-half, SC has a slight, 22-18, advantage over the Hogs.
8:36 p.m.- I apologize for the delay, press row has been a frenzy with the news of Ryan Mallett being out 3-4 with a broken bone in his foot. However, I’m back and so is Arkansas, building a 31-27 lead. As I warned, Powell has 14 points with 5:30 to play in the opening half.
8:37 p.m.- Make that 16 points, and Arkansas has a six-point lead, 33-27.
8:41 p.m.- Courtney Fortson comes up with a steal but then is knocked to the ground on a no-call. He tries to call timeout, but eventually loses the ball and is called for a foul. “Booos,” rang down on the court and John Pelphrey and assistant Rob Evans are all on the officials for not blowing their whistles on that play.
8:55 p.m.- Marcus Britt picks Devan Downey right before the half and goes on to make a layup, giving the Hogs a, 40-33, halftime cushion.
9:15 p.m.- Arkansas leads by 12, 51-39, with 16:27 to play after Fortson set up a perfect alley-oop for Powell and he flushes it home. Powell now leads all scorers with 20 points. (Please refer to the update at 8:11 p.m.)
9:18 p.m.- Woah! Arkansas has blown this game wide open with a quick 6-0 run after the SC timeout. Another slam from Powell extended the Razorback lead to 57-39 with 15:13 to play.
9:23 p.m.- Fortson stares Downey down this nails a three in his face. He now has nine points, seven assists, and six rebounds in this game.
9:27 p.m.- Michael Washington checks back in and only needs one point to be only the fourth Razorback to have 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, and 100 blocks in career.
9:29 p.m.- Courtney Fortson sinks two free-throws and he is now at 11 points on the night. Arkansas leads 62-45 with 12:39 to go.
9:32 p.m.- Washington gets his bucket to join the ranks of Todd Day, Darian Townes, and Derek Hood as the only other Hogs to ever reach 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a career.
9:37 p.m.- Devan Downey has poured in a quiet 18 points with under ten minutes to play.
9:38 p.m.- Jamel Farmer flushes a dunk home and Arkansas has a 17 point advantage, 70-53.
9:47 p.m.- With 6:25 to play, the only starters on the court are Rotnei Clarke and Marshawn Powell. Powell nails two free-throws and he has 24 points on the night. Arkansas leads this one, 73-59, with 6:01 to play.
9:51 p.m.- South Carolina has gone a semi-run and has cut this lead to 75-64 with 4:31 to play. However, Powell extends the lead to 13 with two free throws. He has 26 on the night, his most in SEC play.
9:52 p.m.- A timeout is called for media and with 3:46 to go in this affair, Arkansas leads South Carolina, 77-64.
9:56 p.m.- Arkansas is shooting 21-of-30 from the free-throw line, good for 70% on the night.
10:02 p.m.- Arkansas leads by 13 with 1:18 to play as the fans begin to file out. Arkansas will post their 14th win of the season, improving to 14-12, and 7-4 in SEC action.
10:04 p.m.- Downey drains his 28th point of the night, improving on his 26.5 career average against the Hogs.
FINAL SCORE: ARKANSAS 92 SOUTH CAROLINA 79