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Friday, March 17, 2006
Halftime report
BUCKNELL 27, ARKANSA 23

Bison surrendered the first bucket of teh game, then used an 8-0 run to take a lead they held most of the half. Arkansas tied it once and led briefly, 21-20 on a fluke basket. But the Bison answered their next trip down the floor to retake the lead with a Chris McNaughton jumper from about 12 feet in the paint.

The pace is decidedly in Bucknell's favor, and Arkansas' attempts to press the Bison have gone unrewarded. Bucknell has had no trouble breaking it and getting the ball upcourt.

Bucknell's early lead has largely silenced teh sizable Arkansas fan contingent. They were briefly loud when the Hags tied the game at 17 on a pair of Ronnie Brewer free throws, and again when Darian Townes picked up a loose ball that rolled to his feet in the pain and jammed it home for the Razorbacks' only lead outside of the first two minutes.

First half notes and observations:

  • Arkansas' mascot, Big Red, is the skinniest hog since Pooh's friend piglet. Make an effort -- there is more to a mascot that a basketball uniform and a headpiece.

  • Bucknell got called for a shot clock violation around the 11:31 mark that had Pat Flannery up and questioning the call. The ball had hit the rim during the BU possession, but apparently the officials ruled it was off a deflected pass, not a shot, thus no reset.

  • Arkansas seven-footer Steven Hill has been the shot-blocker he was made out to be. Hill had four rejections in the half. He has also stayed out of foul trouble -- he has just one. That came on a dumb play at the top of the three-poinjt arc, when he got caught in a quickness mismatch on Bucknell point guard Abe Badmus.

    Hill's only bucket of the half also on a mismatch. The Razorbacks caught 6-2 Jason Vegotsky trying to guard him down low in the Bison's matchup and threw an alley-oop over Vegotsky for an easy drop-in.

  • Donald Brown has been in an offensive funk in the first half, 0-3 from the field and two turnovers.

  • Charles Lee 4 for 6 from the field for Bucknell, 2-3 from the arc.

    HALFTIME STATS:

    Bucknell shooting 9-24, 37.5 percent -- 5 for 9 at the arc
    Arkansas is 9-25, 1-7

    Turnovers: Bucknell 9, Arkansas 8
    Rebounds: Bucknell 16, Arkansas 14
    Three guys with 6 each for Arkansas -- Modica, Brewer and Townes
    For Bucknell -- Lee with 12, Bettencourt 6, McNaughton 1-5, 4 points

    Points in the paint: Bucknell 6, Arkansas 16
    points off turnovers: Bucknell 10, Arkansas 2
    2 ties, three lead changes

    Largest lead: Bucknell by 6 at 16:48
    • Published at 12:17 PM by Hoop Time.
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