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Arkansas Gets Hotter Against A Hot Vanderbilt Team

By Chris Jackson

Mar 11, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Manuale Watkins (21) celebrates after making a basket during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Arkansas won 76-62. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Manuale Watkins (21) celebrates after making a basket during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Arkansas won 76-62. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arkansas had a second-half explosion to defeat an extremely good Vanderbilt team in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team is headed to the SEC Championship game after beating Vanderbilt 76-62. It was a tale of two halves but both tales were all Hog.

Coming out in the first half, Arkansas got up on a run all while holding Vanderbilt scoreless. The Hogs got it to 9-0 before the Dores could get a bucket to fall. Once Vandy got going, however, it was a fight until halftime.

Going into the locker room, Arkansas had the lead but only by 4 points at 35-34. Anyone that has watched Vandy play, especially as of late, knows that they can easily turn it around in the second-half and make you pay.

Head coach Mike Anderson must have given an amazing halftime speech, though, because Arkansas came out in the second and never gave the Dores a chance. The Razorbacks put up a staggering 21 points to Vandy’s 4 at the beginning of the second half and never gave that first-half lead up.

The Hogs showed out defensively but on the scoring side of the ball, that second half was exactly what Arkansas fans love to see. At one point, Macon, Watkins, and Hannahs hit three three-pointers in a row.

Jaylen Barford led Arkansas with 18 points. His attacks on the basket and ability to finish were huge today. Hannahs, who hit his 1,000 point mark today, had 16 points. Kingsley had a nice double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Daryl Macon also had double-digit scoring with 15 from the bench.

So what’s next for Arkansas? Only the SEC Championship game against Kentucky. Tipoff for the conference title will be at 12 p.m. on Sunday. If you can’t make it to Nashville to cheer on the Hogs, catch it on ESPN and Watch ESPN online. Woo pig!

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