The Razorbacks’ trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis will end with an Arkansas vs UNC matchup that marks the start of back-to-back games against blue blood programs from North Carolina.
Tip off is scheduled for noon CT and the game will be televised on ESPN2. Unlike Arkansas’ first two games at the event, it will definitely start on time because it’s the first game of the day at Imperial Arena.
Coming off a tough five-point loss to Memphis in the semifinals, the Razorbacks will now try to right the ship against No. 20 North Carolina, which lost to Villanova in overtime on Thanksgiving.
Not only is a third-place finish at stake for Arkansas, but a loss could have it staring at an early three-game losing streak – and losses in four of five – because after facing North Carolina, it returns home for the highly anticipated ACC/SEC Challenge matchup against Duke.
The Razorbacks have already lost to one team from the Tarheel State in UNC Greensboro and now they’re trying to avoid two more, starting with North Carolina on Friday.
Follow along below for updates from the Arkansas vs UNC basketball matchup…
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs UNC
Starting Lineups at Battle 4 Atlantis
| UNC Basketball | Arkansas Basketball |
|---|---|
| G – Elliot Cadeau | G – Devo Davis |
| G – RJ Davis | G – Layden Blocker |
| F – Armando Bacot | G – Tramon Mark |
| F – Jae’Lyn Withers | F – Trevon Brazile |
| F – Harrison Ingram | F – Makhi Mitchell |
Eric Musselman keeps the same starting lineup from yesterday’s game with Memphis. True freshman Layden Blocker gets his second career start.
16:29, 1H – UNC 10, Arkansas 4
Arkansas won the opening tip and Makhi Mitchell gets a contested finish to fall as the Hogs strike first.
Harrison Ingram and RJ Davis connect on back-to-back possessions to give the Tar Heels a 5-4 lead.
Armando Bacot muscles his was in the low post and gets the And-1 to fall.
The Tar Heel defense is suffocating Arkansas and ball movement hasn’t been great. Hogs are being forced to take difficult shots late in the shot clock, and there’s no flow, which is something Eric Musselman mentioned after last night’s game.
11:11, 1H – UNC 19, Arkansas 11
UNC is forcing turnovers and currently in the midst of a 9-0 run.
Arkansas went scoreless for 3:32 until Khalif Battle knocked down a mid-range jumper to end the drought and UNC’s 9-0 run.
After having a turnover-filled game against Memphis, the Hogs have already committed three turnovers just minutes into this one.
Back-to-back travelling violations from Battle and Davenport increases the turnover total five for Arkansas. Stagnant offense and tough shot selection is making life easy on the Tar Heel defense.
Arkansas’ ball movement improves for a possession as Tramon Mark knocks down a three, but at the other end nobody boxes out Seth Trimble and he gets a put-back to go.
7:16, 1H – UNC 25, Arkansas 19
Out of the U-12 media timeout, Davenport fouls Jalen Washington on an and-1. With the free throw, the Hogs are down double-digits.
True freshman Baye Fall enters the game and immediately makes his presence felt with an impressive rejection of Elliot Cadeau’s shot.
The defense from Arkansas has looked much better the past few possessions and a stop leads to an easy layup for Mark. Interesting lineup on the floor for the Hogs right now – Battle, Blocker, Pinion, Davenport and Fall.
Out of the timeout, Davenport get an open look in the corner and drills it. They rule it a 2-pointer, but will review at next stoppage. Next time down the floor, Davenport knocks down the mid-range jumper and is starting to heat up.
The energy and effort on the defensive have been much better. UNC is 0-4 from the field over the last 3:38.
3:19, 1H – UNC 31, Arkansas 27
Tramon Mark gets a huge transition three to fall following a defensive stop. He’s in double-digits with 12 points and has yet to miss a shot.
Mark is really feeling it, now. He sizes up Harrison Ingram and attacks baseline, nearly converting an and-1. He goes 1-2 at the free throw line.
Great hustle from Mark, Ellis and Davenport – who all end up diving on the floor – results in a Tar Heel turnover.
Since the first few minutes of the first half, the Razorback offense has looked the best it has nearly the entire tournament.
Impressive defense from Davenport on Jae’Ly Withers leads to an easy transition layup for Mark. UNC has missed six of their last seven field goals.
Tramon Mark is on fire! He knocks down a contested mid-range jumper to pull the Hogs within four. He’s got 17 points in the first half and is still perfect from the field.
HALF – Arkansas 38, UNC 35
Khalif Battle gets fouled and knocks down Arkansas’ third and fourth free throw attempts of the game. UNC has attempted 18 free throws in the first half.
After another UNC turnover, Tramon Mark hits another midrange jumper off the ball-screen to tie this game at 31. The Hogs force UNC to throw it away and have a chance to tie or take the lead as Layden Blocker gets fouled. Both shots fall and the Hogs have the lead.
Arkansas’ defensive pressure has put the clamps on the Tar Heels over these last six minutes. UNC has yet to hit a field goal over the last 5:24. Davenport gets fouled and knocks down both free throws to give Hogs a three-point lead, but Elliot Cadeau answers from deep to tie it at 35.
Mark goes 1-2 at the line to give Arkansas a 36-35 advantage. Layden Blocker gets an impressive steal and finishes off the first half with a dunk. Hogs end the half on a 15-4 scoring run.
15:42, 2H – Arkansas 44, UNC 43
Ten seconds into the second half and Makhi Mitchell picks up his third foul of the game. Tramon Mark misses his first field goal of the game – a left-wing 3-point attempt – and UNC retakes the lead on an RJ Davis jumper.
Trevon Brazile has had a quiet game so far, but swats Davis’ shot and the Hogs force a shot clock violation on the same possession.
Withers picks up his third foul of the game as Mitchell converts an and-1. Arkansas’ defense is making life difficult on the Tar Heels, but they can’t finish out possessions without fouling.
UNC retakes the lead on an offensive rebound put-back by Harrison Ingram, who immediately picks up his second foul of the game.
With the shot clock winding down, Tramon Mark knocks down a deep three to put the Hogs back on top.
11:21, 2H – UNC 59, Arkansas 50
UNC jumps back out in front after an RJ Davis three falls. Davis has 14 so far.
As El Ellis scrambles for a defensive rebound, Armando Bacot picks up his third foul of the game. At the other end, Mark knocks down a tough mid-range jumper, his 10th made field goal – which is a career-high.
Next time down, Mark gets another jumper to fall to give him 28 points on the day – a new career-high for him.
Hogs transition defense is leading to UNC points, as they’re struggling to get back after missed shots. UNC up by four now.
Makhi Mitchell picks up his fourth foul of the game. UNC is shooting their 24th and 25th free throws of the game – Arkansas has only shot 11.
Chandler Lawson gets a layup to fall, but UNC’s Trimble answers with a corner three to put the Tar Heels up seven. Off a missed layup, RJ Davis makes a transition layup and Musselman calls a timeout.
7:33, 2H – UNC 67, Arkansas 59
Layden Blocker grabs an offensive rebound and makes the put-back layup, but Elliot Cadeau answers at the other end.
Trevon Brazile gets called for a flagrant foul which leads to four points for UNC. They’re up 65-52, but Tramon Mark answers with a 3-pointer and he’s fouled on the shot. He misses the free throw, but is up to 30 points on the day.
Mark and Davis trade jumpers, then Blocker gets credited with a steal – he bounced it off of RJ Davis’ leg out of bounds – to give Arkansas the ball back at the U-8 media timeout.
3:39, 2H – UNC 77, Arkansas 66
Makhi Mitchell, playing with four fouls, loses the ball and Arkansas nearly gives up another transition basket but Ingram’s layup is no good.
Tramon Mark gets fouled and knocks down both free throws, as he’s up to 34 points.
Harrison Ingram backs Davenport down and hits a tough turnaround jumper while drawing the foul.
Mitchell fouls RJ Davis on a drive as Davis gets the and-1 to fall. Mitchell has fouled out. UNC’s lead is back up to 11.
Layden Blocker knocks down two free throws to get the lead back under double-digits, but Wojick answers. Following a Blocker block, Khalif Battle drives, gets fouled and converts the and-1.
Arkansas loses Trimble in the corner and he buries an open 3-pointer to give UNC an 11-point lead.
FINAL – UNC 87, Arkansas 72
Following Elliot Cadeau’s two free throws, he fouls out and sends Blocker to the line. Blocker splits his free throws.
Arkansas gets a stop and it leads to a wide open transition three for Davenport and he buries it. Tramon Mark misses a three the next time down and the Hogs foul RJ Davis. He makes them both.
Devo Davis throws the ball away and Wojick buries a three at the other end to put UNC up by 15.
Tramon Mark goes down hard – it looks like he landed on his tailbone or lower back – and stayed down on the floor for a few minutes. A stretcher is being brought out. Mark is placed on the stretcher and taken off the floor, but there’s no update other than that.
RJ Davis knocks down a jumper and that will do it. Hogs go 1-2 in the Battle 4 Atlantis and fall to the Tar Heels 87-72, but that’s an afterthought as everyone’s attention now turns to the health of Tramon Mark.
UPDATE on Tramon Mark Injury
“Arkansas junior Tramon Mark has been released from a local hospital,” according to Pig Trail Nation. “He had an MRI which showed no significant injury to his back and he will be allowed to travel back to Fayetteville with the team tomorrow morning.”
FINAL STATS
How to Watch Arkansas vs UNC
Date: Friday, Nov. 24
Location: Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas)
Tipoff Time/TV Schedule: Noon CT (ESPN2)
ESPN’s BPI: North Carolina has a 61.9% chance to win and is projected to win by 3.5 points.
Betting Line: North Carolina, -3.5 | O/U 153.5 (BetSaracen)
Battle 4 Atlantis Scores/Schedule
Wednesday
- (14) North Carolina 91, Northern Iowa 69
- Villanova 85, Texas Tech 69
- Memphis 71, Michigan 67
- (20) Arkansas 77, Stanford 74 (2OT)
Thursday
- Texas Tech 72, Northern Iowa 70
- Villanova 83, North Carolina 81 (OT)
- Memphis 84, Arkansas 79
- Michigan 83, Stanford 78
Friday
- Arkansas vs UNC – Noon CT (ESPN2)
- Memphis vs. Villanova – 2:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)
- Michigan vs. Texas Tech – 5 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
- Stanford vs. Northern Iowa – 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
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