National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Arkansas 71, Eastern Kentucky 57
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Officials: # Ernie Pheal, # Antinio Petty, # Mike Thibodeaux
Attendance: 11285

Mardracus Wade scored 13 points, B.J. Young and Marvell Waithe combined for 23, and Arkansas hit 29-of-35 free throws in a 71-57 victory over visiting Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday.

Eastern Kentucky (7-6) went nearly seven minutes without a field goal at the start of the second half and that’s where Arkansas (7-3) pulled away.

Waithe, who was held scoreless in the first half, chipped in a pair of field goals and Devonta Abron’s layup capped a 12-2 run to start the half and made it 51-32 with 14:37 left in the game.

The Colonels, who had their four-game winning streak snapped, could only get as close as 10 points in the second half.

The Razorbacks made their living at the free throw line throughout much of the first half and built a lead as large as 14 points. Arkansas hit 17-of-18 during the first 20 minutes and after Julysses Nobles knocked down 1-of-2, the hosts made their final 12 free throws, sandwiched around a 3-pointer each from Wade, Young and Rashad Madden, and led 39-30 at the break.

Jaron Jones led Eastern Kentucky with a game-high 16 points.
Top Game Performances
 
Eastern Kentucky   Arkansas
Jaron Jones 16 Scoring Mardracus Wade 13
Jaron Jones 4 Assists Julysses Nobles 5
Jaron Jones 9 Rebounds Devonta Abron 10
Jaron Jones 6 Free Throws Made Mardracus Wade 7
Jaron Jones 2 Steals Devonta Abron 2
Eric Stutz 2 Blocks Devonta Abron 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Eastern Kentucky 57 34.0 8-25 15-24 10 31 2 5 17
Arkansas 71 31.6 6-18 29-35 12 37 4 5 9