Arkansas cruises past Kentucky
By: Lance Snow
Updated: March 2, 2013
Courtesy University of Arkansas:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Junior Coty Clarke recorded his first career double-double to lead the University of Arkansas basketball team to its biggest win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Bud Walton Arena with a 13-point victory, 73-60, in front of a sold out crowd on Saturday afternoon.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Junior Coty Clarke recorded his first career double-double to lead the University of Arkansas basketball team to its biggest win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Bud Walton Arena with a 13-point victory, 73-60, in front of a sold out crowd on Saturday afternoon.
Clarke's double-double along with 30 Razorback points off turnovers and
20 offensive rebounds allowed Arkansas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) to take down
Kentucky (20-9, 11-5 SEC) for the second consecutive time at "The
Basketball Palace of Mid-America."
"It was a heck of an effort from our guys," head coach Mike Anderson
said.
"We came out and defended well and did a good job of taking Kentucky out
of what they wanted to do. Our guys gave 110 percent in effort."
Clarke recorded 14-points, a game-high 12 rebounds and a game-high six
assists
in Arkansas' win over the Wildcats. A total of three Razorbacks finished
the game in double-digits with Young contributing 13 points and Powell
adding 15 with nine rebounds, just one shy of a double-double.
"Coach emphasized defense, making the wear and tear part of the game and
taking advantage of their lack of bench depth," Clarke said. "We amped it up in the second half and we clicked defensively."
The Razorback defense put on a show as they forced Kentucky to a
season-high
19 turnovers that resulted in the 30 points for the Hogs. Arkansas also
nabbed 11 steals in the win, while also edging Kentucky on the glass
44-37.
"Our defense was good early," Anderson said. "In the second half we
really
established our identity on defense and it increased our offense. Our
blue collar group got our lead up and made Kentucky exert a lot of
energy."
In the opening minutes, the Razorbacks found themselves trailing the
Wildcats
by seven; however it was Clarke who jump started the offense by scoring
the first four points for the Razorbacks. With a little help from the
rowdy Razorback crowd the Arkansas offense began to hit its stride as
Michael Qualls drained a three-pointer to put
Arkansas up on the Wildcats 13-12, capping a 7-0 run. Arkansas and
Kentucky would keep it close throughout the remainder of the first, with
Arkansas grabbing hold of a slender three-point lead to close the
first, 32-29.
Leading the Razorbacks in the first half was Powell with seven-points
and
five boards. Clarke also chipped in six points and five boards. The
Arkansas defense forced 11 first-half Wildcat turnovers, converting them
into 13 Razorback points.
Arkansas got off to a swift start to begin the second half as the
Razorbacks
strung together an 11-0 run highlighted by a three-point play by Powell,
who dropped down a layup and drew a foul, to put Arkansas up 43-31.
Sophomore Hunter Mickelson would come up big for the Razorbacks with a
steal, notching Kentucky's 18th
turnover of the game, and following it with a dunk to send everyone in Bud Walton Arena to their feet, 59-45.
The
Razorback defense consumed the Wildcats as Kentucky attempted just
eight field goals in the first 14:30 in the second half. Arkansas would
keep up the momentum and keep Kentucky out of reach, closing out the
game 73-60.
The Razorbacks' 13-point victory margin was the largest by a Razorback team
against Kentucky at Bud Walton Arena and Arkansas improved to 15-1 at Bud Walton Arena this season.
