FAYETTEVILLE – The crowd…the crowd…THE CROWD!
A sell-out crowd at Walton Arena was not just in mid-season form, but post-season form as well. Saturday’s game with Purdue looked more like a NCAA Tournament game between two heavy weights, and the Walton Arena crowd was awesome all afternoon.
Tramon Mark hit a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and scored five points in overtime to lead #14 Arkansas to an 81-77 overtime victory over #3/2 Purdue in an exhibition game at Bud Walton Arena.
The game, which was not part of the 2023-24 Arkansas season ticket package, was a sell-out (19,200) and was a charity event. Proceeds from the contest will go to Arkansas 211, part of the United Way, and benefit those affected by tornadoes in Arkansas this past spring.
Mark finished led five Razorbacks in double figures with 15 points along with Trevon Brazile (15), Chandler Lawson (10), El Ellis (12) and Khalif Battle (12). Mark also led the team in rebounds with six. Lawson sealed the win by making two free throws with six seconds left for a five-point lead.
The Razorbacks shot 50.8% from the field for the game and had 14 steals, forcing 20 turnovers.
Reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey battled foul trouble but finished with 15 points, making 7-of-8 free throws, with a game-high nine rebounds.
Arkansas officially opens the season on Monday (Oct. 6) when the Razorbacks host Alcorn State at 7 pm in Bud Walton Arena.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 31 – Purdue 26
• Arkansas grabbed its first lead, 14-12, at 9:56 after Khalif Battle had a basket, a steal and a layup.
• Trevon Brazile hit a basket at 7:52 to give Arkansas an 18-16 lead.
• El Ellis had a basket at 3:30 to give Arkansas a 24-22 lead and the Hogs led the remainder of the first half.
• Arkansas shot 48.3 percent from the field and held Purdue to 34.5%. Purdue was just 2-of-13 from 3-point range.
• Purdue had zero first-half assists.
• El Ellis led Arkansas with seven first-half points and Makhi Mitchell added six.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas 38 – Purdue 43
• Arkansas led by as many as seven with 5:18 before Purdue used a 7-0 run to tie the game with 3:24 left.
• The lead bounced back and forth before Braden Smith converted an old-fashion 3-point play to lead 69-66 with 37 seconds left.
• Mark answered with his tough 3-pointer on the left wing to tie the contest at 69-69.
• Mark and Lawson teamed up to force a Purdue turnover with six seconds left. Ellis drove and tried a layup and the buzzer but came up short.
• Brazile led Arkansas with 13 second-half points, making two 3-pointers and going 5-of-5 at the line.
• Purdue was 5-of-12 from 3-point range and 10-of-13 at the line in the second half
• Arkansas did not attempt a free throw 11:24 in the second half. They finished 7-of-8 in the period.
OVERTIME: Arkansas 12 – Purdue 8
• Purdue struck first in overtime with two free throws from Edey at 3:24.
• Arkansas answered with an old-fashion 3-point play by Ellis to go up one and held the lead the rest of overtime.
• Mark made two free throws with 20 seconds to put the Hogs up four (79-75) and Lawson made two at the charity stripe for a six-point lead (81-75) with six seconds left to secure the win.
• Mark and Ellis each had five points in overtime,
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Arkansas starters were El Ellis, Davonte Davis, Tramon Mark, Trevon Brazile and Chandler Lawson.
• Arkansas controlled the tip to start the game and in overtime.
• Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn scored the game’s first points on putback at 18:58. Devo Davis scored Arkansas’ first basket at 17:28.
• Khalif Battle was the first sub for Arkansas.
• Arkansas handed Purdue its first ever loss in an exhibition game under head coach Matt Painter. Painter is now 28-1 all-time in exhibition games.
• Arkansas is 72-10 all-time in exhibition games and 65-9 in home exhibition games.
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.
Watch for action photos from this game next week on RNN Sports’ “Team Press Pass” page on Facebook!
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Mike Cawood, Associate Director.
