Razorback basketball after fourth-straight win

story by College Sports Matchups Wire Services

After two straight seasons with losing records in conference play and one of the nation’s most highly touted recruiting classes still a year from campus, expectations for Arkansas were not high this year. But with three straight comfortable wins, the Razorbacks are showing signs of improvement.

Arkansas (6-1) will seek to extend its winning streak Wednesday night (Dec. 15) when it hosts Mississippi Valley State (1-7) after a seven-day layoff for final exams.

The Razorbacks turned in a strong performance in their last outing with a 71-62 victory over Seton Hall during the SEC/Big East Invitational in Louisville. Big things aren’t expected for the Pirates this year, but for an Arkansas team that has struggled away from home recently, the result was encouraging.

Junior guard Rotnei Clarke, one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in school history, leads the Razorbacks with 15.7 points per game. He is making 42% of his 3-pointers, and an average of 3.4 per game.

Inside, 6-foot-9 senior Delvon Johnson has become a force for Arkansas. He ranks second in the nation in blocked shots with 4.1 per game, third among Southeastern Conference players with 9.1 rebounds per game and averages 11.6 points. His emergence has been both crucial and unexpected. Last season, after transferring from Western Illinois, Johnson saw little action off the bench, and averaged 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Sophomore point guard Julysses Nobles (9.7 points, 3.1 assists) has also shown well with increased minutes, and has drawn praise for his leadership from coach John Pelphrey. Nobles splits time at the point with Jeff Peterson (7.3 points, 2.7 assists), a junior transfer from Iowa.

The duo’s ability to generate offense has been critical as sophomore Marshawn Powell continues to work his way back from a foot injury suffered in August. Powell averaged 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a freshman, but has yet to regain his form through five games off the bench this year. He is averaging only 19 minutes per game, but turned in his best effort of the season against Seton Hall with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes.

Mississippi Valley State enters Wednesday’s game off a 101-69 loss to Ole Miss on Monday. The Delta Devils have played each of their games on the road this season and won’t play at home until Jan. 8. They have endured some ugly losses, including a 50-point blowout against Brigham Young.

Junior guard Terrance Joyner leads the Delta Devils with 11.3 points per game. D’Angelo Jackson (8.9 points per game) posted a game-high 20 points, including 17 in the second half, against Ole Miss.