FAYETTEVILLE — Keyon Menifield scored a career-high 32 points to lead Arkansas to a 106-90 victory over North Carolina-Wilmington on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks (9-4) concluded non-conference play with their third consecutive victory. They are scheduled to open SEC play with a home game against Auburn next Saturday at 1 p.m.
"I think we’re getting better," Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said. "I was happy tonight offensively. It’s hard in the college game to score 106 points.
"It was a good way to end the nonconference. Obviously we see the impact that Keyon can have, and we’re a different team with his energy out there and his basketball IQ."
Arkansas’ winning streak coincides with Menifield being ruled eligible by the NCAA on Dec. 15. The sophomore guard transfer from Washington increased his point total from 2 to 11 in victories over Lipscomb and Abilene Christian, then shot of 8 of 14 from the field and 13 of 17 from the free-throw line against the Seahawks.
Menfield also had 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 turnovers in 35 minutes. Arkansas outscored UNC-Wilmington by 17 with him on the floor.
"He changes their team in a major way," UNC-Wilmington coach Takayo Siddle said. "They’re 3-0 with him. I mean, he changes their team. That kid is really, really good."
Menifield's three-pointer with 1:14 remaining eclipsed his previous career high of 27 points set in 43 minutes of a 72-71 overtime victory for Washington over Oregon on Feb. 15. Menifield made 3 of 7 from three-point range.
"It felt good...just [playing] my game, let it come to me," Menifield said. "If it was scoring or getting my teammates involved, I just did what I had to do to get the win."
Menifield scored 17 points as the Razorbacks built a 48-42 halftime lead. It was the largest halftime deficit of the season for the Seahawks (9-3), who lost for the first time since Nov. 30.
UNC-Wilmington came to Arkansas on a four-game win streak that began with an 80-73 victory at eighth-ranked Kentucky on Dec. 2 and began the game well. The first half featured eight times and eight lead changes.
"UNCW is really talented team," Musselman said.
The Razorbacks shot 15 of 30 from the floor, including 5 of 11 from three-point range, and made 13 of 18 free throws in the first half.
Arkansas guard Davonte Davis scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half. Davis made 3 three-pointers during a 1-minute, 47-second stretch, and the Razorbacks did not trail after his final triple gave them a 33-32 lead with 6:23 remaining before halftime.
"When Devo gets to heating up and hitting, we're going to be scary," Menifield said. "He’s our leader. That’s who we look for. He's our playmaker."
The Seahawks kept the score close early in the second half, but Arkansas began to pull away with a 14-3 run capped by a pair of Tramon Mark free throws to put the Razorbacks ahead 73-58 with 10:31 to play.
UNC-Wilmington was held without a field goal for more than five minutes as Arkansas extended its lead. The Razorbacks led by as many as 19.
Arkansas’ 106 points were its most since a 142-62 victory over Mississippi Valley State to open the 2020-21 season.
Trevon Brazile’s dunk with 34.9 seconds to play gave the Razorbacks their first 100-point game since a 101-73 victory over South Carolina on March 2, 2021.
Brazile fouled out when he was assessed a technical foul for hanging on the rim. He finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Mark added 18 points in 24 minutes before fouling out, and Jalen Graham added 16 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes.
Arkansas made 33 of 63 shots, including 7 of 20 from three-point range. The Razorbacks made 33 of 43 free throws.
Trazaire White scored 28 points off the bench on 9-of-20 shooting to lead the Seahawks. Shyke Phillips added 25 points.
"They have two high, high-level players," Musselman said. "I thought we did a really, really good job for most of the game defensively."
UNC-Wilmington made 28 of 66 shots and 10 of 28 from beyond the arc. The Seahawks were 24 of 34 at the line.
Arkansas won the rebound battle 40-35 and outscored UNC-Wilmington 50-30 in the paint.