FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – 37 points from Arkansas guard Mason Jones led Arkansas past the Tennessee basketball team, 86-69, on Wednesday at Bud Walton Arena.
For the third consecutive game, senior Jordan Bowden led UT (15-13, 7-8 SEC) in scoring, pouring in 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting, while knocking down four 3-point baskets.
The Razorbacks (18-10, 6-9 SEC) controlled the game’s opening six minutes, running out of the gates to the tune of a 16-3 run, led by 11 points from Jones.
Just past the midpoint of the opening half, the Vols cut into the Arkansas advantage, using an 8-0 run over a period of 4:25 to bring the deficit to 24-17.
In the half’s final seven minutes, the Razorbacks regained control, increasing their lead to as many as 16 points, taking a 40-27 lead into the halftime break.
Out of the locker room, Arkansas opened the half with a layup from Adrio Bailey, before UT broke off an 11-0 run and managed to cut its deficit to two points, 45-43.
The Razorbacks responded to the Vols run, stretching their lead back to double digits, never leading by fewer than nine points over the contest’s final 12 minutes.
The Streak is Still Alive: SEC Defensive Player of the Year candidate Yves Pons finished the night with one block. He increased his season total to 68 blocks and is now just six blocks away from breaking UT’s single season blocks record with three regular-season games left to play.
Bowden Moves up the Ranks: Jordan Bowden’s four 3-point makes increased his career 3-point field goal total to 182, moving him into eighth all-time in program history, surpassing VFL’s Vincent Yarbrough and Jordan McRae. Bowden is just two 3-point makes away from tying VFL Admiral Schofield for seventh all-time.
Up Next: Tennessee returns home to Thompson-Boling Arena for a Saturday matinee matchup with SEC rival Florida. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
