FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In their last non-conference matchup of the season, No. 23 Arkansas comfortably defeated Oakland with a score of 92-62 on Monday evening. Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland stood out for the Razorbacks, each contributing 22 points to the team’s victory.
Thiero demonstrated impressive shooting skills, making 8 of his 12 attempts, while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists. Fland shined particularly in the second half, notching 21 of his points, including five three-pointers, along with six assists. Karter Knox also had a solid performance, scoring 17 points, marking his third consecutive game in double digits.
John Calipari, who is in his first season as head coach at Arkansas, improved his record to 2-1 against the Golden Grizzlies. Prior to this game, Oakland had stunned Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament during Calipari’s last game at the school before moving to Arkansas.
The Razorbacks entered halftime with a narrow lead of 42-39 before exploding for 50 points in the second half, showcasing excellent shooting at 63.3%. In contrast, Oakland struggled offensively, managing only 25.8% from the field after halftime.
The Golden Grizzlies, now holding a record of 4-10, were led by Tuburu Naivalurua who scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Allen Mukeba added 17 points to the tally.
Key takeaways from the game highlight that Oakland initially challenged the Razorbacks with significant scoring in the paint, racking up 42 points in total, including 30 in the first half. For Arkansas, this victory marked their sixth consecutive win before the Southeastern Conference (SEC) play begins, and they averaged an impressive 89.5 points over their last four games of the year.
A pivotal moment in the game came early in the second half when Arkansas led 45-42 and went on an 11-1 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Fland that widened their lead significantly.
A notable statistic from the game shows that Arkansas excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 22 attempts for a 45.5% effectiveness, while Oakland struggled, converting just 2 of 17 attempts for 11.8%.
Next up, Arkansas is set to open its SEC schedule on Saturday against No. 1 Tennessee, while Oakland will host Milwaukee on Thursday.
