The 19th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks pulled away in the second half to earn a 76-53 victory over Robert Morris Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Sophomore forward Cooper Bowser led the Razorbacks with a standout performance, recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard JJ Andrews added 11 points and six rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double of his own.
The first half saw a slow start for Arkansas, as the Razorbacks didn’t score their first points until the game was nearly five minutes in. Robert Morris, looking to challenge the ranked Razorbacks, capitalized early but couldn’t hold off a late Arkansas run. The Hogs went on a 17-3 scoring streak, including a 12-0 burst, to end the half with a 39-30 lead.
After halftime, the Razorbacks faced another challenge when their lead was trimmed to just five at 50-45 with 12:25 remaining. Arkansas responded with a decisive 24-5 run that expanded the lead to 24 points, allowing them to control the game down the stretch.
The Razorbacks demonstrated notable improvements compared to their recent loss to Virginia on Sunday, particularly in ball movement and rebounding. Arkansas recorded 25 assists on 31 total field goals and dominated Robert Morris on the boards with a 45-21 rebounding margin, including 14 offensive rebounds. The team converted these extra opportunities into 16 second-chance points, while holding the Colonials scoreless in that category. Against Virginia, Arkansas logged only 10 assists and was out-rebounded.
Six Razorbacks contributed double-digit scoring, with freshman guard Billy Richmond III leading the way with 16 points. Senior guard Davion Thompson also made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 15 points along with a team-high seven assists. Robert Morris guard Ace Valentine paced the Colonials with 13 points in the loss.
The Razorbacks, now 2-1 on the season, will face Central Arkansas in Fayetteville this Friday. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.