EL PASO, Texas — The message from University of Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson after his team’s 73-71 overtime loss to Texas in the Armed Forces Classic was clear: You can’t allow one loss to carry into the next game.
Shortly after leaving Soto Gym on Fort Bliss, the Razorbacks (0-1) were on a plane heading to Fayetteville to rest up and prepare for their home opener Monday at 7 p.m. against the University of California, Davis. Arkansas has won 43 consecutive home openers, and Anderson is undefeated (16-0) in such games as a head coach.
The Razorbacks’ loss to Texas on Friday will be a learning experience, Anderson said. Longhorns senior guard Kerwin Roach’s game-tying three-pointer with one second remaining in regulation, and allowing a pair of leads to slip away in the final minute of the second half and in overtime, will stick out most.
Arkansas led 62-59 after guard Jalen Harris found Daniel Gafford all alone at the rim for a dunk. But a turnover by Mason Jones against full-court pressure gave Texas another chance. Dylan Osetkowski split a pair of free throws, and Gafford did the same on the other end, which set the stage for Roach’s tying shot.
In overtime, Harris made two free throws to give the Razorbacks a 72-71 lead, but Texas guard Courtney Ramey answered with a floater high off the glass once Gafford bit on his perimeter shot fake.
Arkansas was a combined 1-of-5 shooting in the final 1:19 of regulation and 1:34 of overtime.
“I thought we answered some of the questions we had going in when you talk about coming into the season,” Anderson said. “Give Texas credit. They hung in there and hung in there. We had opportunities to put it away, and that’s going to be the next learning curve is how do we execute and finish the game off.”
Each of Arkansas’ five starters — Harris, Isaiah Joe, Jones, Adrio Bailey and Gafford — played at least 33 minutes in the loss. Harris played a team-high 39 minutes and finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
On Monday, Anderson will be looking for more production from his bench.
Reserves Desi Sills, Reggie Chaney, Gabe Osabuohien and Keyshawn Embery-Simpson combined for only 4 points on 1 of 9 from the floor. Sills accounted for the group’s lone field goal — a three-pointer late in the first half.
“The bench is going to have to come out and play for us,” Anderson said. “[The starters] played some extended minutes, so we’ve got to get our bench involved. We’ve got to get [Reggie] Chaney, Desi going. I thought Desi came in and gave us some quality minutes, and Reggie gave us some really good minutes out there.
“We’ve got to get Gabe going, Keyshawn — all those guys off the bench that can give us a big plus.”
Gafford and Joe led the way offensively, adding 20 and 17 points, respectively. Joe, a Fort Smith native, made 5 of 8 from three-point range.
“He’s a big part of what we’re doing,” Anderson said of Joe. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and he’s got the opportunity to continue to grow and get better. I thought he did things in the flow. He’s got to keep working, keep grinding and trying to get better.”
Along with his 20 points, Gafford grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and gave Anderson “everything he had” despite leaving the game in the first half after Embery-Simpson stepped on his jaw. The sophomore was shaky at the line, making 4 of 9 free throws, and totaled 6 turnovers.
Longhorns Coach Shaka Smart was impressed with Gafford’s resilience.
“He’s tough. He does a really, really good job of getting himself some high-quality shots,” Smart said. “We were trying to double, and he did a nice job splitting the double and we were just fortunate he wasn’t able to score at the very end. He’s a load.”
Up next
ARKANSAS VS. UC DAVIS
WHEN 7 p.m. Monday
WHERE Walton Arena, Fayetteville
RECORDS Arkansas 0-1, UC Davis 0-2
INTERNET SEC Network-Plus
RADIO Razorback Sports Network