FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas won its 43rd consecutive home opener Friday night, but it wasn't easy.
The Razorbacks had to work to beat Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne 92-83 before an announced crowd of 7,504 at Walton Arena.
IPFW returned three starters from a 24-10 team that played in the NIT, added Purdue transfer Bryson Scott and is the preseason favorite to win the Summit Conference.
"I'm proud of our guys," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "We played against a very good Fort Wayne team. You could see that they've got some experienced guys."
Arkansas has seven newcomers, including three transfers -- guards Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford and forward Dustin Thomas -- who were playing their first game for the Razorbacks.
"As a coach, you don't know how your kids are going to come out and play that first game," Anderson said. "The nerves are going. I saw early on some stage fright, but hopefully we've got that over with now and we can go play basketball.
"When it mattered, I thought our guys did a good job of executing defensively and offensively and started rebounding the basketball."
The Mastodons outrebounded the Razorbacks 45-39 and had 21 offensive rebounds.
The rebounding difference helped the Mastodons to a 21-9 edge in second-chance points, but Arkansas outscored IPFW 24-0 in fast-break points.
"They're a great team; they're awesome at what they do, and they're going to have a great year in their league," said senior guard Dusty Hannahs, who led the Razorbacks with 23 points. "But I felt like when we pushed the ball against them, we could do what we wanted, because we have the players to do so.
"That stat's telling to what happens when we get running."
Macon, a junior, had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Junior guard Anton Beard had 12 points, 3 assists and 2 steals off the bench.
Arkansas senior center Moses Kingsley -- the preseason SEC player of the year -- had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. He was 4 of 9 from the field and hit 1 of 2 free throws.
"Moses didn't get as many touches as I wanted, but they had something to do with that, too," Anderson said. "They packed their defense in."
Thomas, a junior who redshirted last year after transferring from Colorado, fouled out after playing just 18 minutes, but he had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
Razorbacks senior guard Manny Watkins scored 10 points.
John Konchar, a 6-5 sophomore, led IPFW with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
"Konchar, my goodness, I love his game," Anderson said. "He can play for me anytime."
Sophomore guard Kason Harrell scored 14 points for the Mastadons and Scott scored 13. Senior point guard Mo Evans had 13 points, but he didn't play the final 13:04 after suffering leg cramps.
Arkansas outscored IPFW 12-2 over a 3:12 span to move ahead 89-74 with 2:42 left after the Mastodons had pulled within 75-70. Thomas scored five points during the run, which was started by Watkins' short jumper.
"That's what Arkansas does," IPFW Coach Jon Coffman said. "They just keep it on, keep it on, and then over time it wears you out."
The Mastodons shot 40 free throws -- 16 more than the Razorbacks -- but made just 24 for 60 percent.
"I thought fatigue was a factor," Anderson said. "They got to the free-throw line, but they didn't make some of them. A lot of them were short."
Game sketch
STARS Arkansas senior guard Dusty Hannahs (23 points) and junior guards Daryl Macon (13 points, 5 assists) and Anton Beard (12 points, 3 assists, 2 steals). IPFW sophomore forward John Knochar (17 points, 12 rebounds)
TURNING POINT Jaylen Barford hit a three-pointer to start a 12-2 run by the Razorbacks that pushed their lead to 89-74 with 2:42 left.
KEY STAT Arkansas shot 53 percent (35 of 66) from the field.
UP NEXT Arkansas plays Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. Monday in Walton Arena.
Sports on 11/12/2016