Billy Richmond III gave Arkansas exactly what it needed when the Razorbacks were trying to shake loose from Gonzaga.
The junior guard finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists in Arkansas’ 76-72 exhibition win Saturday at Bud Walton Arena, and he did most of his damage after halftime. Richmond scored 12 of his points in the second half as the Razorbacks dug out of an early hole, then held on through Gonzaga’s late push.
He was efficient enough from deep to keep the floor spread, too, knocking down three 3-pointers as Arkansas found its footing. Official game stats showed Richmond went 4-for-10 overall, 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and 6-for-10 at the line.
That all-around line mattered because Arkansas spent much of the first half fighting itself. Gonzaga built a 36-26 lead with 2:14 left before halftime, taking advantage of Arkansas turnovers and a physical edge inside. The Razorbacks had 10 turnovers before the break and shot 36.4% from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Then came the response. Arkansas closed the half on a 9-0 burst to trim the margin to 36-35, then opened the second half with another 9-0 run. Over a stretch that spanned nearly nine minutes around halftime, the Razorbacks outscored Gonzaga 24-3 and flipped the game.
Richmond was central to that swing, not just as a scorer but as a connector. He helped Arkansas move the ball more cleanly after the break, when the Razorbacks cut their turnovers down to two. He also gave them more than one way to score, something they needed as Gonzaga kept leaning on its size.
The Bulldogs outrebounded Arkansas 52-47 and won the points-in-the-paint battle 36-22. Arkansas answered by spacing the floor and making 11 of 24 3-pointers, a 45.8% clip that helped cover for its issues around the rim.
Richmond’s biggest shooting moment came when Gonzaga was making another charge. After the Bulldogs cut Arkansas’ lead to 52-49 with 10:39 remaining, JJ Andrews hit a 3-pointer and Richmond followed with one on the next possession. Those back-to-back shots gave the Razorbacks breathing room again.
Still, Gonzaga kept hanging around. After Arkansas pushed its lead to 11, the Bulldogs ripped off an 11-2 run and got within 68-66 with 2:59 left. Miikka Muurinen answered with a layup, but the game still needed one more big shot to settle it.
That moment came from freshman Davion Thompson, who hit a step-back 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining to put Arkansas ahead 73-68. The Razorbacks closed it out at the free-throw line for the four-point victory.
Afterward, Richmond made sure Thompson got his credit.
“He made the big-time shot, and in a bad situation where they're coming back and probably on the run,” Richmond said. “But you know, Cal said he got big balls. Cal said he got big balls.”
“Cal said he’s got.. big balls” Never a dull moment with Billy 🐐 #WPS pic.twitter.com/8Ihzmvbg3Y
Thompson finished with 12 points, while Andrews and Muurinen each added 10. Cooper Bowser had nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
For Arkansas, Richmond’s outing was the clearest sign that he can help in more ways than one. He led the team in scoring, but he also finished possessions, created for teammates and gave the Razorbacks another perimeter threat when they needed one.
The game was only an exhibition, so it won’t count in the regular-season standings. Even so, Arkansas got a useful look at itself against a No. 15 Gonzaga team and worked through some of the problems that showed up early.
The Razorbacks will be back at Bud Walton Arena for another exhibition Wednesday, Oct. 28, against Memphis. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
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JJ Andrews Gave Arkansas Fans More Than Just Scoring To Love
An exhibition game at Bud Walton Arena gave Arkansas fans an early glimpse of what JJ Andrews can bring beyond the scoring column. The freshman wing finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in the Razorbacks 76-72 win over Gonzaga, and his impact grew as the game wore on.
Andrews did much of his best work in the second half, when Arkansas was trying to erase an early deficit and steady itself against a seasoned opponent. With the Razorbacks getting key runs and contributions from multiple players, his activity on the glass and willingness to do the dirty work stood out as another reason the crowd had plenty to like about what it saw. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Looked Real Against Gonzaga But One Rotation Battle Is Brewing
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One of the more interesting questions coming out of the night is how the minutes will sort out in the backcourt and on the wing. Jordan Smith, one of the highest-ranked newcomers, had a rough offensive showing in going 0-for-9 from the field and finishing with one point, while Jeremiah Wilkinson saw limited action in the second half after scoring seven points overall. For a team with as much talent as Arkansas has assembled, the next step is figuring out which young pieces will force their way into a larger role once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas May Have Found A Frontcourt Answer After Gonzaga Test
Arkansas came out of its 76-72 win over No. 15 Gonzaga with more than a quality nonconference result. The Razorbacks may also have a clearer picture of how to steady the frontcourt after a rugged test, and senior transfer center Cooper Bowser was right in the middle of it. In 20 minutes, he put up nine points, 10 rebounds, a block and an assist while helping Arkansas absorb the kind of physical pressure Gonzaga brought around the basket.
John Calipari had reason to single out Bowser afterward, especially with Arkansas working through adjustments as the game unfolded. Freshman guard Jordan Smith Jr. didnt have his shot going, but he still found ways to contribute, and the Hogs needed every bit of that balanced effort as they battled to finish near the rim against Gonzagas defense. For a team trying to sort out its interior rotation, Bowsers showing offered a promising hint of stability. [Read more 🡒]