FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 23 Arkansas used a dominant second half to defeat Oakland 92-62 Monday night in Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks only held a 42-39 lead at intermission. But in the second half point guard Boogie Fland caught fire from the field as the Hogs outscored the opponent 50-23. The game was close the entire first half with Oakland even leading 33-31 with 3:37 remaining before halftime. John Calipari liked what he saw in the second half particularly from Fland.

"Well, his eye," Calipari said. "He said, ‘It was my eye,’ in the first half. So I told him he needs to shoot like this (closes one eye) the rest of the season then. So your eye in the second half just became better? They all laughed. I did say it in the huddle, he should shoot like that."

Arkansas shot 60% (35-58) from the field and 45% (10-22) from distance. That compared to Oakland shooting 40% (24-60) from the field and only 12% (2-17) from behind the 3-point line. An impressive stat was Arkansas blocking 10 Oakland shots. Trevon Brazile had 9 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 6 blocks. Calipari talked about his team defending the 3-point shots

"They are doing a pretty good job of executing," Calipari said. "You think about us early in the year. We couldn’t make a 3. And we couldn’t stop a 3 and now the percentages from the 2 and the 3 are pretty good. We’re working on it. When you double team that opens three. On some of the isos they got the rim."

Both teams turned it over 13 times and the Razorbacks won the battle of the boards 33-28. Oakland did outscore the Hogs in the paint 42-38.

Fland caught fire in the second half to finish with 22 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists. Adou Thiero had another big game going for 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals. Karter Knox got the start with Johnell "Nelly" Davis once again out with a wrist injury. Knox scored 17 points and had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Billy Richmond had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists along with a steal. Calipari praised the energy of Knox and Richmond following the game.

"He and Billy with their energy and effort and what they are doing," Calipari said of Knox.
"They are playing hard. So were the guards. And we are a bigger team. I could have played Adou at the three. That’s an option we have."

D.J. Wagner had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Jonas Aidoo was limited to 16 minutes. He had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block.

"Jonas was sick, just so you know," Calipari said. "Probably shouldn’t have played him. Under the weather, so if you wondered, I was trying to get him in-and-out. I’m just trying to get us going."

Buru Naivalurua topped Oakland with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Allen Mukebo added 17 points and 6 boards. Oakland (4--10) eliminated Calipari and Kentucky from the NCAA Tournament last season. Calipari was asked how this game came about?

"He begged me," Calipari said. "And I said, ‘Greg (Kampe), don’t. You just beat me in the NCAA Tournament. Now you want to beat me again?’ But he said, ‘Cal, I really need the game.’ He’s a friend. ‘Okay.’ But all day today and yesterday, I’m thinking, ‘Why did I do this?’ But you know what, it was a good game for us. We had to play again zone and they… Every game you play in the preseason is to prepare you for league play, so now if someone throws a zone at us, I’m feeling pretty comfortable."

Arkansas (11-2) now heads to SEC play with a trip to No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday.

"Well, here's what I'd say about the league," Calipari said. "You could win seven league games and go 7-11. How many of those would be quad one? Six. And plus, the Michigan (win). So, you have seven quad one wins. Wait a minute, there are other teams that are– 'Well, they got 24 wins.' Yeah, but none of them are quad ones. So, that's the thing about this league. Take care of business. Coach your team, whether they're playing well or not, you got to stay with them and you know, bust through ...Like our first three games are ridiculous.

"We could be a top 20 team and go 0-3. So, you just keep coaching, you keep going, you keep doing it. But there are really good teams in this league and that's what you always want, to have a league top-to-bottom that's that way. Is it only top to bottom for us? No, it's everybody. I'm worried just about us. You got the same games we got. Some of you even have a harder schedule than we got. So, it should be interesting."

The tip on Saturday will be at noon and televised on ESPN. Tennessee (12-0) will host Norfolk State on Tuesday before welcoming the Hogs to Knoxville. 

Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Sports Action