FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas men’s basketball team delivered a strong performance Wednesday night, defeating Memphis 93-81 in an exhibition game at Bud Walton Arena.
Senior Miikka Muurinen led the way for the Razorbacks with a double-double, tallying 10 points and 12 rebounds along with two assists and two steals. Freshman Billy Richmond III and junior Jordan Smith Jr. also made significant contributions, each scoring 17 points. Richmond was perfect from the field, hitting all seven of his shots, including two from beyond the arc. He also added three assists and two blocked shots while registering a team-high +27 efficiency rating. Smith went 7-for-11 from the floor and chipped in with two assists and two blocks.
The Razorbacks capitalized on their athleticism throughout the game, recording 13 dunks as part of their offensive dominance. They dished out 18 assists, forced 14 turnovers, and posted 14 steals to go along with seven blocked shots. Arkansas scored 54 of its 93 points in the paint and held a 26-11 edge in points off turnovers.
Despite trailing by as many as 21 points with just over six minutes remaining, Memphis battled to close the gap late. The Tigers hit two three-pointers in the final 1:17 to cut the final margin to 12 points. Memphis also kept themselves in the game at the free throw line, converting 19 of 25 attempts compared to 15 of 27 for Arkansas.
Memphis was led by Nemanja Popovic and Luke Almodover, who each scored 16 points. In the second half, the Tigers outscored Arkansas by two points but couldn’t overcome the Razorbacks’ first-half advantage.
This exhibition matchup served as a tune-up for the Razorbacks, ranked #12/13 in preseason polls, as they prepare to officially open their season. The team’s opener is set for Tuesday, November 3, when they host the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.