Arkansas Media Relations
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Arkansas basketball team made a big run early in the second half to cut Tennessee’s lead to 11 points, but the Hogs couldn’t get enough shots to fall in the end as they fell 77-58 loss.
Arkansas was led by freshmen B.J. Young, who had 18 points, and Hunter Mickelson, who had 12.
“In the first half, we didn’t play with toughness,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “I was proud of our guys in the second half and the big positive in the game was our defense in the second half. We scratched and clawed, but we didn’t do things well enough to win on the road. Hunter (Mickelson gave us some quality minutes. Tennessee made 11 three-point shots and several were contested, so you have to give credit to them.”
Tennessee went on a 19-0 run to really distance themselves from the Razorbacks. Arkansas tried to cut into the Volunteer lead for much of the remainder of the first half, getting post points from Mickelson.
Eight of Mickelson’s 12 points came in the first half. However, Tennessee was very hot from behind the three-point line as they shot 7-of-10 from behind the arc and took a 47-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Arkansas who had the hot shooting hand early in the second half as Young scored five of the Razorbacks’ first seven points. Tennessee responded to with a Jarnell Stokes dunk, but then a three-pointer by sophomore Mardracus Wade and a layup from Young cut the lead to 11 with 15:58 to play.
he Hogs never got closer than 11 for the remainder of the game. Tennessee hit some big three-pointers late in game from Skylar McBee and Trae Golden to keep the Volunteer lead in double figures.
Arkansas was 24-of-56 from the field, but struggled from three-point range (3-of-12). Mickelson also pulled down five rebounds to go with his 12 points. The Jonesboro, Ark., native added two blocks.
The 18 points from Young was his fifth-highest output of the season. He was 1-for-2 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Arkansas returns home for its next game, facing Florida on Saturday in Bud Walton Arena. The game is set to tip-off at 5 p.m.
