Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (11/12/2026) — Billy Richmond III poured in 21 points and pulled down 9 rebounds as the Arkansas Razorbacks opened their 2026 home schedule with a 79-66 victory over the Central Arkansas Bears on Thursday night at Bud Walton Arena. The Razorbacks shot 52% from the field and 39% from three-point range in front of 19,200 fans, building a lead that reached as many as 17 points and weathering a second-half push to close out the win.
How It Happened
The game's early minutes belonged to Central Arkansas. Cole McCormick converted a 2-foot dunk off a Harry Beauchamp assist to tie the game at 2-2, then Beauchamp — assisted by Ty Robinson — knocked down a 23-footer to give the Bears a 5-2 edge just inside the two-minute mark of the first half.
Arkansas answered with the sequence that defined the contest. Jordan Smith Jr. drove for a layup, Robinson hit a 12-foot jumper, and Richmond scored on a layup to push the Razorbacks in front 8-7. What followed was an 11-0 run — from an 8-7 deficit to a 17-9 lead — that Central Arkansas never fully recovered from. Richmond punctuated the surge with a 24-foot three-pointer at 13:01, and the Razorbacks kept building from there.
Miikka Muurinen finished back-to-back dunks, Smith Jr. added another dunk, and Richmond hit two more three-pointers to extend the Arkansas advantage to 29-9. By halftime, Jeremiah Wilkinson had drilled consecutive long-range jumpers — a 26-footer and a 25-footer in the final minute — pushing the Razorbacks to a 43-27 lead.
The second half opened with Central Arkansas climbing back into range. The Bears trimmed the gap to seven points when Camarion Bead hit a 23-footer with 12:13 remaining to make it 55-48, following a pair of Beauchamp three-pointers that had already cut into the Arkansas cushion. For a stretch, the Razorbacks' first-half cushion looked more vulnerable than the box score suggested.
But Arkansas had enough answers. Cooper Bowser's alley-oop dunk off a Davion Thompson assist had earlier pushed the lead back to 17, and the Razorbacks' ball movement — they finished with 19 assists on the night — kept generating quality looks to close out the win.
Turning Point
The 11-0 Arkansas run from 8-7 to 17-9 in the first half set the game's course. Richmond's 24-foot three-pointer off a Thompson assist at 13:01 was the pivotal strike, turning what had been a narrow Central Arkansas lead into a double-digit Arkansas advantage. The Razorbacks outscored the Bears 36-20 from that moment through the half, and Central Arkansas never led again.
Star of the Game
Richmond III was the catalyst on both ends, finishing with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. He hit three three-pointers — all from at least 23 feet — while also finishing above the rim to give Central Arkansas's defense no clean read on how to guard him. His nine rebounds helped Arkansas hold a 33-30 edge on the glass, and his four assists reflected his comfort operating within the offense. No other player in the game came close to matching that combination of scoring volume and all-around impact.
What It Means
Arkansas showed considerable offensive depth in the win. Four Razorbacks reached double figures: Richmond's 21 led the way, with Wilkinson adding 14, Smith Jr. contributing 12, and Muurinen chipping in 11. The 19 assists against 11 turnovers reflected a team that moved the ball purposefully, while the 39% three-point shooting (on 17 made triples between both teams) demonstrated range that will concern future opponents.
For Central Arkansas, the Bears showed resilience in the second half — cutting a 17-point deficit to seven — but 13 turnovers and 31% shooting from three-point range made sustained momentum difficult against a sharper Arkansas squad. Beauchamp finished with 14 points and three assists to lead the Bears, while Luke Moore added 12 points. The Bears competed hard; they were simply outgunned on the night.
