# SEC Men's Basketball: Arkansas Razorbacks Dominates Robert Morris Colonials 76-53

**Published:** 2026-11-11 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/sec-men-s-basketball-arkansas-razorbacks-dominates-robert-morris-colonials-76-53

**Teams:** [Arkansas](https://secscouts.com/arkansas/)

**Players:** [JJ Andrews](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5142711/jj-andrews), [Cooper Bowser](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5176136/cooper-bowser), [Billy Richmond III](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5060732/billy-richmond-iii), [Davion Thompson](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5210941/davion-thompson)


---

**FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (11/10/2026) —** Arkansas posted a commanding 76-53 victory over Robert Morris at Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night, shooting 50 percent from the field and overwhelming the Colonials on the boards by a 45-21 margin to open the 2026 season in front of 19,200 fans.

## How It Happened

The game began as a tightly contested battle, with Robert Morris setting the tone early. Samuel Obenjo converted a layup off an Ace Valentine assist at the 18:42 mark, and Valentine followed with a 26-foot three-pointer to push the Colonials in front 5-0. Darius Livingston extended that advantage to 10-6 with a 23-footer at 13:37, giving Robert Morris an early foothold against the SEC host.

Arkansas answered. Abdou Toure threw down a one-foot dunk on a feed from Billy Richmond III at 11:20 to give the Razorbacks a 12-11 lead, but Ace Valentine immediately restored the Robert Morris edge with a driving layup. The teams continued to exchange blows — Livingston's second three-pointer at 9:12 put the Colonials back up 18-14, before Davion Thompson drilled back-to-back treys at 8:52 and 7:12 to pull Arkansas even at 22. KJ Garris Jr. pushed Robert Morris back ahead with a 26-footer at 6:51, but Jeremiah Wilkinson knotted it again with a 23-foot jumper moments later at 25-25. With just over five minutes remaining in the half, Valentine buried a 27-footer to give the Colonials a 28-27 lead.

That would be the last Robert Morris lead of the night.

## Turning Point

From the moment Valentine's three-pointer rattled through, Arkansas took control and never released it. The Razorbacks erupted on a decisive 12-0 run to close the first half, turning a one-point deficit into a commanding nine-point advantage at the break. Cooper Bowser was at the center of the surge — he threw down consecutive alley-oop dunks, the first at 3:29 off a Miikka Muurinen assist to push Arkansas ahead 33-28, and a second at 2:29 on a Davion Thompson feed to extend it to 35-28. With eight seconds left in the half, KC Ugwuakazi converted a layup off a Valentine assist to send the Razorbacks into the locker room ahead 39-30.

The second half brought more of the same. Arkansas opened the period with a Jeremiah Wilkinson layup and a Richmond dunk to push the lead to 43-30, and despite Robert Morris cutting into the deficit — a pair of Ta'Zir Smith three-pointers trimmed it to 50-43 at 12:59 — the Razorbacks consistently answered, with JJ Andrews drilling a 24-footer at 12:09 and Davion Thompson converting a dunk at 10:59 to push the lead back to double digits for good.

## Star of the Game

Billy Richmond III paced the Arkansas offense with a game-high 16 points, pulling down four rebounds and distributing four assists. His physicality inside — including a two-foot dunk at 18:01 of the second half that extended the Razorbacks' lead to 43-30 — set the tone for a team that controlled the paint throughout.

Davion Thompson was equally influential, finishing with 15 points, a game-high seven assists, and five rebounds. Thompson's playmaking proved crucial during Arkansas's first-half closing run and kept the Colonials' defense off-balance from start to finish. Cooper Bowser added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, capping his night with two alley-oop dunks during the game-turning run. JJ Andrews chipped in 11 points and eight boards as Arkansas put four players in double figures.

For Robert Morris, Ace Valentine led the Colonials with 13 points and five assists, while Livingston contributed 10 points on two three-pointers in the first half. The Colonials showed competitive fight in the opening 20 minutes but could not sustain their offensive efficiency — a 37 percent shooting night and 10 turnovers proved costly against Arkansas's depth.

## What It Means

Arkansas's performance reflected a team built around physicality and ball movement. The Razorbacks' 25 assists on the night underscored a commitment to sharing the ball, while their 45-21 rebounding advantage illustrated a size and effort advantage that Robert Morris could not overcome. For Robert Morris, the showing in Fayetteville offers film to study — the Colonials competed deep into the first half and held their own against a Power Four opponent before the Razorbacks' closing run changed the game's complexion. Arkansas walks away with a confident season-opening statement before a sold-out crowd at Bud Walton Arena.

---

*Original article: [SEC Men's Basketball: Arkansas Razorbacks Dominates Robert Morris Colonials 76-53](https://secscouts.com/news/sec-men-s-basketball-arkansas-razorbacks-dominates-robert-morris-colonials-76-53) — SEC Scouts*