FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In a notable college basketball matchup, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic each netted 19 points, helping the No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks secure a 65-49 victory against Troy on Wednesday evening.
Arkansas (2-1) faced initial difficulties but ignited a dominant second-half performance that included a critical 19-6 surge midway through the period. This run featured scoring contributions from Ivisic, Thiero, Boogie Fland, and Johnell Davis, turning the tide for the Razorbacks.
Thiero demonstrated strong offensive skills, going 8 for 15 from the field while also grabbing seven rebounds. Ivisic was impressive as well, shooting 6 for 8 and hitting 6 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc, alongside collecting three blocks.
Once the Razorbacks established their lead, Troy could not close the gap, failing to get within single digits thereafter. The Trojans experienced shooting woes with a mere 36% success rate in the second half and were unable to convert any of their eight attempts from three-point territory during that period.
Jackson Fields was the standout performer for Troy (2-1), scoring 13 points in the contest. For Arkansas, Fland contributed with 12 points and provided seven assists. Notably, starting point guard D.J. Wagner struggled, ending the game with no points after going 0-of-4 from the field over 37 minutes. Additionally, Trevon Brazile managed only four points in nine minutes before he appeared to sustain an ankle injury late in the first half.
In terms of takeaways, Troy, picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference, showed their potential by leading for much of the game, only faltering during the Razorbacks’ decisive run. On the other hand, Arkansas, featuring only one returning scholarship player, exhibited signs of adaptation as they continue to gel as a team, despite being out-rebounded by seven against a conference opponent. The aggressive play on the perimeter resulted in 24 points from 24 turnovers committed by Troy.
A pivotal moment in the game came during the second-half run that shifted Arkansas from a three-point deficit to a 10-point lead with about 10 minutes remaining.
Statistically, it is worth noting that Arkansas had a challenging first half, shooting just 29% from the field and 19% from the three-point line, trailing with a score of 27-26 at halftime. However, their shooting improved significantly in the second half, where they made 8 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc, leading to an overall 64% shooting performance in that period.
Looking ahead, Troy will head to Oregon for their next game on Sunday, while Arkansas will host Pacific on Monday.