Arkansas Rallies Past Gonzaga in Exhibition

Arkansas rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to defeat Gonzaga 76-72 in an exhibition at Bud Walton Arena, a result that does not count toward either team's season record. After closing the first half with a 9-0 run, the Razorbacks opened the second with a 15-3 burst and held off a late Gonzaga push. Turnovers and defensive lapses, particularly allowing offensive rebounds, contributed to Arkansas's slow start, while freshman Miikka Muurinen showed promise despite some freshman mistakes. Freshman guard Jordan Smith Jr. briefly left with an apparent right-leg injury but returned, and other Razorbacks also had concerns after hard falls. The exhibition provided an early test for two teams with national-title aspirations, with both coaches agreeing to use pressure rather than zone defense.