FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In a stunning display of dominance, the Arkansas Razorbacks set a new school record for the largest halftime lead following a commanding 109-35 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday evening.
Under the leadership of John Calipari, the Razorbacks (5-1) entered the locker room with a staggering 60-15 advantage, which matches the previous record of a 45-point lead at halftime achieved during a 2009 contest against Alcorn State.
Arkansas swiftly established control of the game, racing to a 12-point lead prior to the first media timeout. The team went on an incredible 30-1 scoring run in the first half, with guard Johnell Davis contributing 10 points by the 7:36 mark, exceeding the total points scored by the Maryland Eastern Shore team (2-7) at that time.
Karter Knox, a freshman standout, led the offensive charge with 21 points, while an impressive seven Razorbacks scored in double figures. Davis and Boogie Fland each added 16 points, with Billy Richmond and Zvonimir Ivisic contributing 14 points each. D.J. Wagner scored 13, and Adou Thiero rounded out the scoring with 11 points.
The remarkable 74-point margin of victory is tied for the third-largest in the history of the Arkansas basketball program.
Observations from the matchup reveal that while the Razorbacks have successfully bested opponents they were expected to defeat in Calipari’s inaugural season, little insight can be derived from such a one-sided win against Maryland Eastern Shore.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred right from the outset, as Arkansas surged to a 15-3 lead. Ivisic’s back-to-back three-pointers solidified a significant advantage for the Razorbacks, extending their lead into double digits before the first media timeout.
In terms of statistics, the Razorbacks outperformed the Hawks significantly, making 15 three-pointers compared to Maryland Eastern Shore’s mere 14 field goals. Furthermore, Arkansas capitalized on 19 turnovers by the Hawks, resulting in 31 points, while the visitors failed to score from any of Arkansas’ four turnovers.
Looking ahead, Maryland Eastern Shore will face Little Rock on Wednesday, while the Razorbacks are set to take on Illinois in Kansas City on Thanksgiving Day.