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Hogs Improve Record to 10-3 and Extend Home Winning Streak
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — If James Madison came to Bud Walton Arena hoping for a late-season miracle, freshman Meleek Thomas quickly turned that dream into a nightmare. Behind a career-high 28 points from Thomas, the #18 Arkansas Razorbacks cruised to a dominant 103-74 victory over the Dukes on Monday night.
The win marks a perfect wrap-up to the non-conference slate for John Calipari’s squad, who will head into SEC play with a 10-3 record and an eight-game home winning streak.
The Thomas Takeover
Coming off the bench, Meleek Thomas provided an immediate spark that JMU simply couldn't extinguish. The freshman was lethal from beyond the arc, shooting 6-of-10 from three-point range and 8-of-16 overall. He put up 18 of his 28 points in the first half alone, fueling a massive 16-0 run that transformed a tight 16-12 game into a 32-12 blowout before the under-8 media timeout.
A Three-Point Barrage
Arkansas entered the night looking to fine-tune their perimeter game, and they did exactly that. The Hogs drained a season-high 15 three-pointers, shooting an efficient 54.8% from the floor.
While Thomas led the way, he had plenty of help:
Darius Acuff Jr.: Continued his strong freshman campaign with 17 points, 12 of which came in the first half.
D.J. Wagner: Controlled the tempo and added 14 points.
Malique Ewin: Provided muscle inside, finishing with 11 points.
Dukes Stifled by Hog Defense
James Madison (7-7) struggled to find a rhythm against the Razorbacks' length. Though Bradley Douglas put up a valiant 19 points and Justin McBride added 13, the Dukes were plagued by 14 turnovers, which Arkansas clinically turned into 21 points on the other end.
JMU made a brief push in the second half, cutting the lead to 15, but a second 15-0 Arkansas run—capped by two more Thomas triples—put the game on ice for good.
What’s Next?
The Razorbacks have no time to celebrate this century-mark performance. They open SEC play this Saturday, January 3, back at Bud Walton Arena against Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT on ESPN2.
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