Razorbacks upset No. 12 Kentucky in Coach Cal’s return

Hogs down Wildcats 8979 to pick up big win on the road in SEC play

From the University of Arkansas

arkansasrazorbacks.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Arkansas used one of the team’s best shooting performances of the season to upset No. 12 Kentucky 89-79 in Head Coach John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena on Saturday night.

The Razorbacks made 13 3pointers – the second-most in a game this season and the most in a road game vs. a ranked opponent since 2019 – to down the Wildcats on an emotional night. The two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the first half with neither team leading by more than six. Karter Knox’s 3pointer with in the final minute of the half gave the hogs a 46-45 lead at the half.

Arkansas opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take a commanding lead that the Hogs never gave up, leading the rest of the game. Kentucky cut the deficit to six points with just under seven minutes remaining but the Hogs responded with a Zvonimir Ivisic 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine before Nelly Davis pushed the lead back to 11 points when laid one in with 5:54 on the clock.

Five Razorbacks scored in double digits led by Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero’s teamhigh 21. Thiero added eight rebounds while going 10-for-12 from the free throw line.

Fellow Kentucky transfers DJ Wagner (17 points) and Ivisic (14 points) were key in the victory as the former Wildcat trio combined for 52 points in their return to Rupp Arena.

Davis matched his season-

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best with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting while Karter Knox chipped in 10 points.

Arkansas shot 55.2% (32-58) from the field for the game, including 64.0% (16-25) in the second half.

Amari Williams led all scorers with 22 points for the Wildcats with former Razorback Jaxson Robinson adding 20 for Kentucky.

FIRST HALF

Kentucky made its first four 3-point attempts to take an early 18-12 lead. Arkansas was 4-of-7 from deep to start.

Billy Richmond III had a steal and dunk to tie the game at 20-20.

Arkansas had seven assists on its first eight made baskets, including four from D.J. Wagner.

Thiero made back-to-back baskets and Knox capped a 60 run with a fastbreak dunk to give Arkansas a 31-30 lead and force a UK timeout.

Davis hit a 3-pointer to extend the run to 9-0 and a 34-30 lead.

Knox hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to provide the 4645 Razorback lead at the break.

Davis was 3-of-5 from 3-point and led Arkansas with 12 first-half points. Thiero added 11 and Knox eight.

Arkansas finished the half with 11 assists on 16 made baskets.

Jaxson Robinson led UK with 12 points, making all three of his 3’s.

Arkansas forced eight firsthalf turnovers and out-scored the Wildcats 14-5 on fastbreaks.

SECOND HALF

Arkansas opened the second half with a 12-2 spurt to lead 58-47.

Wagner hit a 3-pointer and Knox had a fastbreak dunk to put Arkansas up 67-56 and force a UK timeout with 13:02 to play.

Kentucky got to within six (76-70) with 6:58 left before Ivisic answered with a 3pointer and Davis converted a fast break layup to put the Hogs up 11 (81-70) with 5:54 remaining.

Kentucky made a final push, getting to within eight with 5:05 left. Wagner made a free throw, Thiero made a free throw, Thiero made a layup and Wagner sank a jumper to put the game out of reach and give Arkansas a 14-point lead (87-73) with 2:49 left Wagner played all 20:00 minutes of the second half and scored all 17 of his points in the period.

Arkansas shot 64% from the field in the second half while holding Kentucky to 39.4%.

Kentucky was 7-of-10 from 3point range in the first half but was just 3-of-13 in the second. The ‘Cats were also just 5-of-10 at the free throw line.

GAME NOTES

For the first time this season, Arkansas’ starting lineup was D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic. It is Arkansas’ eighth starting lineup this season.

Arkansas won the opening tip. The Razorbacks have won the tip in 17 of 21 games this year.

Johnell Davis scored game’s first points, a 3-ponter at 19:49.

Trevon Brazile was Arkansas’ first sub.

Arkansas was out-rebounded 33-30 and won for just the second time (2-7) this year when being out-rebounded.

Arkansas had 17 assists. The Hogs only had 16 assists total over the previous two games combined.

Arkansas made 13 3-pointers. The Hogs only had 12 3pointers in the previous two games combined.

Arkansas made 13-pointers. It was the second-most this year (making 15 versus UMES) and tied for the most by Arkansas versus a ranked opponent in a true road game.

(Also made 13 at #19 LSU on 2/2/19.)

Arkansas has been impressive defending the 3-point shot in the second half. Kentucky was just 3-of-13 from deep in the second half. In the last four games (at Missouri, Georgia, Oklahoma and Kentucky), opponents are a combined 5-of-29 (17.2%) in the second half from deep. (Note, in the first half over the span, opponents are 28-of-52 (53.8%).

Arkansas improved to 8-110 when playing a team ranked #12 in the AP poll, improving to 3-5 in such games on the road.

However, Coach Calipari is now 6-0 when playing an opponent ranked #12. He was 10 at UMass, 4-0 at Kentucky and now 1-0 at Arkansas. It was his first win versus #12 on the road.

Coach Calipari is now 249-28 in games played in Rupp Arena. He was 0-1 at UMass, 0-1 at Memphis, 249-26 as UK head coach and now 1-0 at Arkansas.

D.J. Wagner and Johnell Davis combined for 14 assists and three turnovers. Wagner had a season-high eight helpers and Davis tied his season high with six. Adou Thiero had three steals, his best effort in an SEC game. He has a steal in nine straight games and 17 over the span.

Johnell Davis had two steals and has nine over the last three games. He only had 10 steals in the previous 16 games combined.

D.J. Wagner tied his season high with 17 points. It was his second-best effort in an SEC game. Ironically, his career best in an SEC game was scoring 19 versus Arkansas in Rupp Arena last March.

Arkansas and Kentucky have met on 51 previous occasions, all but four since Arkansas joined the SEC (1991-92).

Arkansas snapped a threegame losing streak to the Wildcats. Despite the loss tonight, Kentucky owns a 3615 advantage in the series, including a 32-15 mark in SEC games.

Arkansas has won three of the last four meetings in Lexington. However, Kentucky still owns a 16-6 advantage alltime in games played at Kentucky.

Razorback head coach John Calipari is 3-4 all-time when facing Kentucky and is 1-2 when facing the Wildcats in Rupp Arena.

Arkansas is 8-1 this year when leading at the half, 11-2 when leading with 10 minutes to play, 11-0 when leading with five minutes to play and 11-0 when leading with two minutes to play.

UP NEXT

Arkansas returns to action on Wednesday night at Texas with tipoff set for 8 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2.