NEW YORK — With its backs against the wall, Arkansas basketball rose to the occasion and earned its first victory under John Calipari at the Jimmy V Classic.
The Razorbacks (8-2) trailed by 15 points in the first half, but they did not give up under the lights of Madison Square Garden. Instead, they rallied for their most impressive result of the season, an 89-87 victory over No. 14 Michigan (8-2) on Tuesday night that stands as the signature victory at this point in the John Calipari era.
The Razorbacks barely escaped. A Roddy Gayle Jr. jumper at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime hit the front of the rim and fell harmlessly to the floor.
After losses at the start of the year against Baylor and Illinois, Arkansas needed this victory for its resume and its morale. Now, Arkansas can expect continued improvement throughout the upcoming SEC schedule.
Here are three observations from Arkansas’ win over Michigan.
Arkansas basketball set the tone after halftime
The Razorbacks began the second half with a 12-0 run that gave them an eight-point lead and put Michigan on the ropes. This dominance eventually turned into an 18-point advantage.
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Arkansas asserted itself with physical play and a focus on transition. Easy baskets for Michigan suddenly disappeared and the Hogs controlled the paint. It also didn’t hurt that the Razorbacks shot 41.7% on 3-pointers in the second half.
Things got dicey in the end. Michigan cut the deficit to one point with 1:28 left. Arkansas didn’t run it all the way, but it did just enough, and the initial burst out of the locker room proved to be the difference.
Boogie Fland shines at his reunion
The Bronx native scored a game-high 20 points and dished out seven assists Tuesday night. He ran the show as Arkansas’ point guard and was a dynamic wizard.
Fland played a vital role in the Hogs’ first-half comeback effort. He had 13 points in the first 20 minutes and sparked an Arkansas rally that cut the halftime deficit to just four points.
However, it would be remiss to heap praise on Fland and not highlight the heroics of his backcourt mate, DJ Wagner. The sophomore made six straight shots at one point in the second half and finished with 16 points. If these two play like this more often, Arkansas can start to realize their potential.
Jonas Aidoo has his best game as Razorback
Aidoo’s start to his career with the Hogs was slow and injury-plagued, but the big man was an imposing presence against the Wolverines. In addition to his strong defense, Aidoo finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Hogs need this version of Aidoo for the rest of the season if they want to compete in the grueling SEC, which begins with a road trip to Aidoo’s old school in Tennessee.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas basketball avoids Michigan rally at Jimmy V Classic
