FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks opened their 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a decisive 106-61 win over the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas relied on two overwhelming scoring surges to secure the victory, including a 25-0 run early in the first half and a 21-3 stretch in the second half. The matchup marked the first-ever meeting between the Razorbacks and the Golden Lions. The win also extended Arkansas' streak of home-opening victories to 54 games, with 34 of those coming at Bud Walton Arena since it first opened for the 1993-94 season.
Sophomore guard Jeremiah Wilkinson led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field, while fellow sophomore Jordan Smith Jr. added 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Wilkinson and Smith also combined for eight of Arkansas' 11 total steals, with five credited to Wilkinson and three to Smith.
Freshman forward Maper Maker also made his presence felt, contributing six points while recording a game-high eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Despite limited scoring, Maker registered an impressive +51 efficiency during 22 minutes on the court.
The Razorbacks controlled the pace throughout, dominating several key statistical categories. Arkansas outrebounded UAPB 43-27, outscored the Golden Lions 45-6 on fast breaks, and tallied 32 points off turnovers compared to UAPB's 12.
Jalen Tatum led UAPB in scoring with 16 points in the loss.
Up next, Arkansas travels to Washington, D.C., to face No. 9-ranked Virginia in the Capital Showcase. The game will be held at Capital One Arena with tipoff set for 1 p.m. Eastern/Noon Central on Saturday. The matchup will be televised on ESPN.