For a few brief minutes in the first half of Monday’s college basketball contest between Oakland and Arkansas, it looked as if Greg Kampe and the Golden Grizzlies were going to upset a John Calipari-coached team for the second time in nine months.
A sluggish start for the Razorbacks led to Oakland tying the game on multiple occasions in the first half. The Golden Grizzlies even took a 33-31 lead with 3:37 to play.
But unlike Calipari’s final Kentucky squad, No. 23 Arkansas (11-2) weathered the storm and pulled out away for a 92-62 victory over Oakland (4-10) in the Hogs’ final non-conference game of the season.
Adou Thiero led Arkansas in scoring with 22 points, while Boogie Fland scored 21 in the second half to lead the Razorbacks’ strong offensive effort. Karter Knox was the only other Razorback to reach double figures with 17 points.
Tuburu Naivalurua (18 points) and Allen Mukeba (17 points) led Oakland in scoring. After scoring 39 points in the first half, the Golden Grizzlies were held to just 23 in the second half. Their poor shooting from beyond the arc continued as well, as Oakland only made two of their 16 three-point attempts.
With non-conference play complete, Arkansas will now shift its attention to SEC play. The Razorbacks will open it on Saturday when they travel to Knoxville to take on No. 1 Tennessee (12-0). The Volunteers will play their final non-conference game on Tuesday against Norfolk State.
Oakland, meanwhile, will return to Horizon League play on Jan. 2. The Golden Grizzlies will host Milwaukee in search of their second conference win of the season.
No. 23 Arkansas’ tilt with No. 1 Tennessee will tip-off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and will be televised on ESPN.
