GAME NOTES: Off to an impressive 7-2 start, the Arkansas Razorbacks will try to put another tally in the win column when they host the SE Missouri State Redhawks on Saturday night in non-conference play at Bud Walton Arena.

Following two wins in the beginning of a three game homestand, the Redhawks fell to the Missouri State Bears last Saturday, 73-61. As a result, SEMO currently sits at 5-5 on the season.

After a 6-0 start was halted with back-to-back losses to Iowa State and Clemson, the Razorbacks rebounded last Saturday to post a 69-55 victory over the Dayton Flyers. The win bumped Arkansas' record up to 7-2.

This meeting marks the ninth time these programs will have faced off, with the Razorbacks holding a commanding 7-1 series lead. They last met on Nov. 24, 2010, when Arkansas defeated the Redhawks in a 66-56 final.

Nino Johnson scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in SEMO's recent loss to Missouri State. Antonius Cleveland (12 points) and Isiah Jones (11 points) were the other Redhawks to finish in double figures. Offensively, SEMO shot below average, only connecting on 39.7 percent of its field goal tries, including a 1-of-13 mark from beyond the arc in the second half. The Redhawks defended the perimeter very poorly, allowing the Bears to convert 63.2 percent of its 3-point attempts.

Johnson is currently the second-best scorer on the roster (10.9 ppg), and he leads the team in rebounding (6.9 rpg). The top scorer this season has been Jarekious Bradley (16.1 ppg), who is also the fourth-best scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference. Defensively, the Redhawks are only allowing the opposition to average 62.4 ppg, ranking them second in scoring defense among all OVC squads. Unfortunately, SEMO needs better offensive production as it averages 66.1 ppg and only shoots 29 percent from 3-point range. The Redhawks also need to perform better from the foul line given that they are converting just 61.6 percent of their free throws.

The Razorbacks' Bobby Portis nearly finished with a double-double (18 points and nine rebounds) in the team's recent victory over Dayton. Reserve Rashad Madden also contributed to the scoring with 12 points. The Hogs took command early, holding a 40-23 lead at halftime after they shot 57.7 percent from the field in the opening period. Despite seeing its shooting performance decline in the second half, Arkansas maintained its lead thanks to an impressive 10- of-13 mark from the foul line. The Razorbacks also played strong perimeter defense, limiting the Flyers to a 5-of-18 mark from 3-point range. Arkansas won the rebounding battle, 34-25.

Portis (15.8 ppg) and Michael Qualls (14.3 ppg) are the top-two scorers for Arkansas this season, and both rank in the top-10 in the Southeastern Conference. Portis is also the leading rebounder for the Razorbacks, as he averages 6.8 rpg. Arkansas' offense has been important to its early success, as the team is scoring 83.4 ppg (first in the SEC), converting 47.0 percent of its field goal attempts (fifth), which includes a league-best shooting percentage from 3-point range (.420). The Razorbacks are also ahead of the game in turnover margin (+4.6), and their 80 steals (second) are a big reason. Although the team is allowing 71.4 ppg, Arkansas is far enough ahead in scoring margin (+12.0) so as to not allow that to much of an issue.

Although the Redhawks have been playing good defense this season, the Razorbacks' offensive arsenal may be too much for them to handle. Arkansas should be able to win its second game in a row with relative ease.