GWEBB

ARK

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Battle scores 21 points as No. 14 Arkansas beats Gardner-Webb 86-68

AP
Nov 10, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Khalif Battle had 21 points off the bench and No. 14 Arkansas used a pair of big runs in the middle of the game to beat Gardner-Webb 86-68 on Friday night.

Tramon Mark added 14 points and El Ellis scored 13 for the Razorbacks. Trevon Brazile had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

After trailing by eight early, Arkansas (2-0) finished the first half on a 17-5 surge and reeled off another 13-4 spurt in the first few minutes of the second to help build a 26-point lead.

Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman, however, didn't like the way his team started the game - nor ended it.

“I thought they ran harder than we did, for sure,” he said. “Only win battle of the boards by six is not enough. Give up 11 offensive rebounds is not going to cut it.”

Battle keyed the first effective stretch, when Musselman said his team was at its best, by scoring 10 points in under five minutes to close the half. Ellis and Mark led the other charge. The two transfers scored all their second-half points in the first seven minutes of the period.

Gardner-Webb (1-1) put a little scare into the home crowd during the first half. The Runnin’ Bulldogs led for almost 10 minutes and didn’t trail by more than six points until less than three minutes remained before halftime.

Besides struggling to stop Arkansas after those first few minutes, Gardner-Webb was eventually stifled by the Razorbacks’ size. Brazile blocked five shots and Makhi Mitchell blocked four more while also chipping in five rebounds and four points.

Caleb Robinson led Gardner-Webb with 18 points, and Julien Soumaoro added 15.

SECOND UNIT

Arkansas outscored Gardner-Webb 40-19 in bench points. Battle was the Razorbacks' top reserve, and leading scorer, for the second straight game.

“He's been phenomenal,” Musselman said. “Battle is a starter. He’s just not hearing his name called right away. He’s been our most efficient offensive player.”

BIG PICTURE

Mediocre starts were the norm for Arkansas during its non-conference schedule last season as the Razorbacks generally put teams away in the final 10 minutes, leading to some tense moments. The Razorbacks haven’t had such difficulties in two games this week, even while breaking six transfers into the rotation.

UP NEXT

Gardner-Webb plays at No. 20 Baylor on Sunday.

Arkansas hosts Old Dominion on Monday.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
GWEB
Bulldogs
36
ARK
Razorbacks
48

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Runnin' Bulldogs gains possession)
20:00	+2	Caleb Robinson makes two point layup	2-0
19:48	+2	Chandler Lawson makes two point jump shot (El Ellis assists)	2-2
19:03	+2	Julien Soumaoro makes two point layup (Cheickna Sissoko assists)	4-2
18:46		Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot
18:44		Chandler Lawson offensive rebound
18:31		Davonte Davis misses three point jump shot
18:29		Trevon Brazile offensive rebound
18:24		Trevon Brazile turnover (Julien Soumaoro steals)
18:18		Cheickna Sissoko misses two point layup
18:16		Caleb Robinson offensive rebound
18:16		Chandler Lawson personal foul
18:16	+1	Caleb Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	5-2
18:16	+1	Caleb Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-2
17:57	+2	Davonte Davis makes two point jump shot	6-4
17:46		Trevon Brazile blocks Caleb Robinson's two point layup
17:44		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
17:38		El Ellis turnover (Ademide Badmus steals)
17:33	+2	Caleb Robinson makes two point layup (DQ Nicholas assists)	8-4
17:16		El Ellis misses two point jump shot
17:14		Julien Soumaoro defensive rebound
17:14		Chandler Lawson personal foul (Ademide Badmus draws the foul)
17:04		Tramon Mark personal foul
16:52	+2	Shahar Lazar makes two point layup	10-4
16:39		Ademide Badmus personal foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
16:38		Makhi Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:38	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	10-5
16:24	+3	Quest Aldridge makes three point jump shot (Shahar Lazar assists)	13-5
16:12		Jeremiah Davenport misses two point jump shot
16:10		Darryl Simmons II defensive rebound
16:04		Darryl Simmons II misses three point jump shot
16:02		Davonte Davis defensive rebound
15:54	+2	Makhi Mitchell makes two point layup (Davonte Davis assists)	13-7
15:45		Darryl Simmons II turnover (Davonte Davis steals)
15:43		Shahar Lazar personal foul
15:43		TV timeout
15:22		Davonte Davis misses three point jump shot
15:20		Jeremiah Davenport offensive rebound
15:16	+2	Davonte Davis makes two point jump shot	13-9
14:53		Davonte Davis personal foul
14:49		Khalif Battle shooting foul
14:49		Julien Soumaoro misses regular free throw 1 of 3
14:49		Julien Soumaoro misses regular free throw 2 of 3
14:49		Julien Soumaoro misses regular free throw 3 of 3
14:49		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
14:33		Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot
14:31		Caleb Robinson defensive rebound
14:21		Caleb Robinson misses three point jump shot
14:19		El Ellis defensive rebound
14:14		DQ Nicholas personal foul (El Ellis draws the foul)
14:10	+1	El Ellis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-10
14:10	+1	El Ellis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-11
14:00		DQ Nicholas misses two point jump shot
13:58		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
13:48		Davonte Davis misses three point jump shot
13:46		DQ Nicholas defensive rebound
13:31	+2	Brendan Mykalcio makes two point layup	15-11
13:09	+3	El Ellis makes three point jump shot	15-14
13:02		Makhi Mitchell blocks DQ Nicholas's two point layup
13:00		Runnin' Bulldogs offensive rebound
12:59		Brendan Mykalcio misses two point jump shot
12:57		El Ellis defensive rebound
12:42		Tramon Mark misses two point layup
12:40		Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound
12:35		Makhi Mitchell misses two point jump shot
12:33		Brendan Mykalcio defensive rebound
12:29		DQ Nicholas misses two point layup
12:27		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
12:22		Julien Soumaoro personal foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
12:17		El Ellis misses two point jump shot
12:15		Darryl Simmons II defensive rebound
11:56		Darryl Simmons II misses three point jump shot
11:54		El Ellis defensive rebound
11:29	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point layup (Makhi Mitchell assists)	15-16
11:20		Makhi Mitchell blocks Cheickna Sissoko's two point layup
11:18		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
11:13		Lucas Stieber personal foul
11:13		TV timeout
11:13		Khalif Battle misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:13	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-17
10:44	+2	Caleb Robinson makes two point layup	17-17
10:23		Ademide Badmus personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
10:23	+1	Tramon Mark makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-18
10:23		Tramon Mark misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:23		Isaiah Richards defensive rebound
9:59		Shahar Lazar turnover (traveling)
9:46		Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot
9:44		Jalen Graham offensive rebound
9:39		DQ Nicholas personal foul
9:39	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-19
9:39	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-20
9:20		Jump ball. (Runnin' Bulldogs gains possession)
9:09	+3	Julien Soumaoro makes three point jump shot	20-20
8:43		El Ellis misses two point layup
8:41		Cheickna Sissoko defensive rebound
8:18		Julien Soumaoro misses three point jump shot
8:16		Cheickna Sissoko personal foul (Jalen Graham draws the foul)
8:16		Jalen Graham misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:07		Caleb Robinson defensive rebound
8:07		Julien Soumaoro misses three point jump shot
8:05		Cheickna Sissoko offensive rebound
7:50		Tramon Mark blocks Cheickna Sissoko's two point layup
7:50		Caleb Robinson offensive rebound
7:50		Jalen Graham personal foul
7:50		TV timeout
7:50	+1	Caleb Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-20
7:50	+1	Caleb Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-20
7:44		Lucas Stieber turnover (traveling)
7:39		Tramon Mark misses two point layup
7:37		DQ Nicholas defensive rebound
7:33		Julien Soumaoro misses three point jump shot
7:31		Ademide Badmus personal foul
7:31	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-21
7:31	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-22
7:16		Davonte Davis personal foul (DQ Nicholas draws the foul)
7:16	+1	DQ Nicholas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-22
7:16		DQ Nicholas misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:16		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
6:51	+2	Joseph Pinion makes two point jump shot	23-24
6:38	+2	Isaiah Richards makes two point layup (Julien Soumaoro assists)	25-24
6:28		Khalif Battle misses two point layup
6:26		Lucas Stieber defensive rebound
6:21		Julien Soumaoro misses two point layup
6:19		Razorbacks defensive rebound
6:10	+2	Joseph Pinion makes two point dunk (Makhi Mitchell assists)	25-26
6:04		Shahar Lazar personal foul
6:04		Shahar Lazar turnover
6:04		Makhi Mitchell technical foul
6:04		Makhi Mitchell turnover
6:04		Joseph Pinion misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:04	+1	Joseph Pinion makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-27
6:04	+1	Julien Soumaoro makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-27
6:04		Julien Soumaoro misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:02	+3	Shahar Lazar makes three point jump shot (Darryl Simmons II assists)	29-27
5:40	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot	29-29
5:23	+2	Brendan Mykalcio makes two point layup	31-29
5:07	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot	31-31
5:06		Brendan Mykalcio personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
5:06		Tramon Mark misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:06		Razorbacks offensive rebound
5:03	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Tramon Mark assists)	31-34
4:37		Quest Aldridge misses three point jump shot
4:35		Runnin' Bulldogs offensive rebound
4:19		Quest Aldridge turnover
4:18		Jump ball. (Razorbacks gains possession)
4:06	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point jump shot	31-36
3:50		Trevon Brazile blocks Caleb Robinson's two point layup
3:50		Cheickna Sissoko offensive rebound
3:50	+2	Cheickna Sissoko makes two point jump shot	33-36
3:25		Trevon Brazile turnover (Caleb Robinson steals)
2:55		Caleb Robinson misses three point jump shot
2:53		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
2:40	+3	Trevon Brazile makes three point jump shot (El Ellis assists)	33-39
2:35		Runnin' Bulldogs 30 second timeout
2:35		TV timeout
2:22		Makhi Mitchell blocks Caleb Robinson's two point layup
2:15		Razorbacks defensive rebound
2:15	+2	Khalif Battle makes two point jump shot	33-41
2:03		DQ Nicholas turnover (El Ellis steals)
1:58	+2	El Ellis makes two point layup	33-43
1:44	+3	Julien Soumaoro makes three point jump shot	36-43
1:27		Isaiah Richards personal foul
1:27	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-44
1:27	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-45
1:03		DQ Nicholas misses two point jump shot
1:01		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
0:51		Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot
0:49		Isaiah Richards defensive rebound
0:39		Caleb Robinson misses two point jump shot
0:37		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
0:18	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot	36-48
0:02		Julien Soumaoro misses three point jump shot
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
GWEB
Bulldogs
32
ARK
Razorbacks
38

Time		Play	Score
19:37	+2	Cheickna Sissoko makes two point layup (Julien Soumaoro assists)	38-48
19:15		Davonte Davis misses two point jump shot
19:13		Caleb Robinson defensive rebound
19:08		Caleb Robinson turnover (lost ball) (Chandler Lawson steals)
18:58	+2	El Ellis makes two point jump shot	38-50
18:44	+2	Cheickna Sissoko makes two point dunk (Julien Soumaoro assists)	40-50
18:14		El Ellis misses three point jump shot
18:12		Caleb Robinson defensive rebound
18:10		Trevon Brazile personal foul (Caleb Robinson draws the foul)
17:52		Ademide Badmus turnover (bad pass)
17:26		Davonte Davis misses three point jump shot
17:24		DQ Nicholas defensive rebound
17:14		Brendan Mykalcio misses three point jump shot
17:12		Davonte Davis defensive rebound
16:58	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot	40-52
16:42		Trevon Brazile blocks Brendan Mykalcio's two point layup
16:40		Davonte Davis defensive rebound
16:33		El Ellis misses two point layup
16:31		DQ Nicholas defensive rebound
16:24		DQ Nicholas misses three point jump shot
16:22		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
16:16		Davonte Davis misses two point jump shot
16:14		Brendan Mykalcio defensive rebound
16:07		Makhi Mitchell blocks Ademide Badmus's two point layup
16:05		El Ellis defensive rebound
15:58	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point dunk (Tramon Mark assists)	40-54
15:37		Trevon Brazile blocks Brendan Mykalcio's two point jump shot
15:35		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
15:17	+2	El Ellis makes two point layup	40-56
15:10		Runnin' Bulldogs 30 second timeout
15:10		TV timeout
14:58		Trevon Brazile blocks Quest Aldridge's three point jump shot
14:56		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
14:49	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point layup	40-58
14:49		Caleb Robinson shooting foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
14:49		TV timeout
14:49	+1	Tramon Mark makes regular free throw 1 of 1	40-59
14:22	+2	Caleb Robinson makes two point layup (Shahar Lazar assists)	42-59
13:52	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot	42-61
13:44		Trevon Brazile shooting foul (Caleb Robinson draws the foul)
13:44	+1	Caleb Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-61
13:44		Caleb Robinson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:44		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
13:31	+2	El Ellis makes two point layup	43-63
13:22		Caleb Robinson misses two point layup
13:20		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
13:14	+2	Khalif Battle makes two point layup	43-65
12:56	+2	Caleb Robinson makes two point layup	45-65
12:55		Trevon Brazile shooting foul (Caleb Robinson draws the foul)
12:55	+1	Caleb Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	46-65
12:41	+2	Jalen Graham makes two point layup	46-67
12:24		Isaiah Richards misses two point layup
12:22		Jalen Graham defensive rebound
12:07	+2	Jalen Graham makes two point jump shot	46-69
11:58		El Ellis personal foul (Darryl Simmons II draws the foul)
11:45		Lucas Stieber misses two point jump shot
11:43		Jalen Graham defensive rebound
11:36		Jalen Graham misses two point jump shot
11:34		Lucas Stieber defensive rebound
11:27		Jalen Graham blocks Caleb Robinson's two point dunk
11:25		Davonte Davis defensive rebound
11:19		Khalif Battle misses two point layup
11:17		Cheickna Sissoko defensive rebound
11:05		Julien Soumaoro misses three point jump shot
11:03		Davonte Davis defensive rebound
10:52		Joseph Pinion misses two point layup
10:50		Cheickna Sissoko defensive rebound
10:46	+3	Lucas Stieber makes three point jump shot (DQ Nicholas assists)	49-69
10:46		Runnin' Bulldogs 30 second timeout
10:29	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Davonte Davis assists)	49-72
10:16		Tramon Mark personal foul (Quest Aldridge draws the foul)
9:55	+2	Cheickna Sissoko makes two point layup (Shahar Lazar assists)	51-72
9:33		Quest Aldridge shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
9:33		Khalif Battle misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:33	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-73
9:20	+2	Brendan Mykalcio makes two point layup (DQ Nicholas assists)	53-73
8:59		Brendan Mykalcio shooting foul (Trevon Brazile draws the foul)
8:59	+1	Trevon Brazile makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-74
8:59		Trevon Brazile misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:59		Quest Aldridge defensive rebound
8:44		El Ellis personal foul
8:42		Brendan Mykalcio turnover (bad pass) (Baye Fall steals)
8:31	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point dunk (Khalif Battle assists)	53-76
8:24		Quest Aldridge misses three point jump shot
8:22		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
8:17		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
8:15		Runnin' Bulldogs defensive rebound
7:58		DQ Nicholas misses three point jump shot
7:56		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
7:45		El Ellis misses three point jump shot
7:43		DQ Nicholas defensive rebound
7:35		Caleb Robinson misses two point layup
7:33		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
7:30		Trevon Brazile turnover (Quest Aldridge steals)
7:28	+2	Caleb Robinson makes two point layup (Quest Aldridge assists)	55-76
7:28		Trevon Brazile shooting foul (Caleb Robinson draws the foul)
7:28		TV timeout
7:28		Caleb Robinson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:28		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
7:11		Tramon Mark turnover (bad pass) (DQ Nicholas steals)
7:02	+2	DQ Nicholas makes two point layup	57-76
6:50		Caleb Robinson shooting foul (Jeremiah Davenport draws the foul)
6:50	+1	Jeremiah Davenport makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-77
6:50	+1	Jeremiah Davenport makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-78
6:31		DQ Nicholas misses two point jump shot
6:29		Baye Fall defensive rebound
6:18		Khalif Battle misses two point jump shot
6:16		Caleb Robinson defensive rebound
6:09		DQ Nicholas misses two point layup
6:07		Ademide Badmus offensive rebound
6:03	+3	Julien Soumaoro makes three point jump shot (Ademide Badmus assists)	60-78
5:47	+3	Jeremiah Davenport makes three point jump shot (El Ellis assists)	60-81
5:32		Baye Fall personal foul (DQ Nicholas draws the foul)
5:32		DQ Nicholas misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:32		Baye Fall defensive rebound
5:06		Ademide Badmus shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
5:06	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-82
5:06	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-83
4:48		Baye Fall blocks Julien Soumaoro's two point layup
4:46		Runnin' Bulldogs offensive rebound
4:42		Julien Soumaoro misses two point layup
4:40		Julien Soumaoro offensive rebound
4:40		Baye Fall personal foul (Julien Soumaoro draws the foul)
4:40		Julien Soumaoro misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:40		Jeremiah Davenport defensive rebound
4:26	+3	Chandler Lawson makes three point jump shot (Denijay Harris assists)	60-86
3:59		Baye Fall blocks Caleb Robinson's two point layup
3:57		Baye Fall defensive rebound
3:48		Denijay Harris turnover (lost ball) (Julien Soumaoro steals)
3:37	+2	Julien Soumaoro makes two point layup	62-86
3:37		Chandler Lawson shooting foul (Julien Soumaoro draws the foul)
3:37		TV timeout
3:37	+1	Julien Soumaoro makes regular free throw 1 of 1	63-86
3:16		Isaiah Richards shooting foul (Denijay Harris draws the foul)
3:16		Denijay Harris misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:16		Denijay Harris misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:16		Quest Aldridge defensive rebound
2:57		Darryl Simmons II misses two point jump shot
2:55		El Ellis defensive rebound
2:47		Quest Aldridge shooting foul (Baye Fall draws the foul)
2:47		Baye Fall misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:47		Baye Fall misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:47		Runnin' Bulldogs defensive rebound
2:21		Lucas Stieber misses three point jump shot
2:19		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
2:01		Jeremiah Davenport misses two point jump shot
1:59		Baye Fall offensive rebound
1:54		Baye Fall turnover (lost ball) (Darryl Simmons II steals)
1:52		Quest Aldridge turnover (out of bounds)
1:40		Baye Fall turnover (bad pass) (Cheickna Sissoko steals)
1:29	+2	Darryl Simmons II makes two point jump shot (Lucas Stieber assists)	65-86
1:29		Chandler Lawson shooting foul (Darryl Simmons II draws the foul)
1:29	+1	Darryl Simmons II makes regular free throw 1 of 1	66-86
1:10		Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot
1:08		Lucas Stieber defensive rebound
1:03		Jeremiah Davenport blocks Brendan Mykalcio's two point layup
1:01		Brendan Mykalcio offensive rebound
0:56		Baye Fall shooting foul (Cheickna Sissoko draws the foul)
0:56	+1	Cheickna Sissoko makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-86
0:56	+1	Cheickna Sissoko makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-86
0:42		Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot
0:40		Lucas Stieber defensive rebound
0:31		Darryl Simmons II misses two point jump shot
0:29		Jeremiah Davenport defensive rebound
0:25		Jeremiah Davenport turnover (bad pass) (Lucas Stieber steals)
0:20		Joseph Pinion blocks Lucas Stieber's two point layup
0:18		Runnin' Bulldogs offensive rebound
0:18		Darryl Simmons II misses three point jump shot
0:16		El Ellis defensive rebound
0:03		Cade Arbogast misses two point layup
0:01		Cheickna Sissoko defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Cheickna Sissoko defensive rebound