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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas rebounded from two sub-par
performances with a timely combination of accurate 3-point shooting
and solid defense.
Brandon Dean was 4-for-6 from 3-point range and scored 17 points
as the Razorbacks (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today; No. 24 Associated Press) beat Jackson State 107-78 Wednesday night.
"The biggest problem JSU had was getting the ball down the
floor," Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said. "That's what we stressed. We're not
going to press just when we score or make a free throw, we're going
to press after a miss."
Arkansas, coming off a 63-54 defeat to Southern Mississippi on Saturday night in the final of the John Thompson Classic, jumped out to a 13-4 lead thanks to the outside shooting of Blake Eddins.
Eddins, making his first start of the season, made two
3-pointers in the first 3:22 and added a layup as Arkansas (2-1)
hit its first eight shots from the floor.
"We came out strong," Eddins said. "We have to have somebody hit their shots. It does not really matter if it is me or not."
Jackson State (0-4) fell behind 40-26 with 5:55 left in the
half. But the Tigers outscored the Razorbacks 15-10 the rest of the
half to cut it to 50-41.
Early in the second half, Arkansas got a quick scare when the
Tigers scored the first four points to trim the Razorbacks' lead to
50-45 with 18:30 remaining.
Still leading by five at the 16:55 mark, Arkansas put together a
23-4 run over the next 4:40. The Razorbacks got 3-pointers from
Eddins, Joe Johnson and Dean during the run while forcing several
turnovers.
"Late in the second half, I could see our fatigue," Jackson
State coach Andy Stoglin said. "This is some of our players'
fourth or fifth game in a short period of time. Arkansas came with
pressure in the second half."
Richardson agreed that the Tigers appeared tired, but also
expressed pleasure at his players' effort, citing Dean as a prime
example.
"He only played 15 minutes, but went all out," Richardson
said.
Dean said he and his teammates played hard defense the entire
game.
"We really focused on that in the pregame," he said. "We
really got up and down the floor. Coach stressed to us to stay in
front of our man. We capitalized off steals."
The Razorbacks were 12-for-27 from 3-point range and shot 49.4 percent overall. Arkansas also forced 22 turnovers.
Eric Large led Jackson State with 21 points.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Jackson State Clubhouse
Arkansas Clubhouse
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