By Tom Murphy and
Anthony Kristensen
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas and Coach John Calipari found several ways to honor late Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports writer Bob Holt during Saturday's game against Texas-San Antonio.
Arena public address announcer Johnny George asked for a moment of silence prior to lineup announcements to honor Holt, who covered the Razorbacks for 43 years. Holt died late Wednesday night at age 65 in Columbia, Mo., after suffering a cardiac event following the football team's loss at Missouri last Saturday.
Seats at both the press tables in the southwest corner of Walton Arena and in the media interview room held roses and featured placards holding the space for Holt.
Calipari, the first-year Arkansas coach who had publicly announced he was saying rosaries for Holt, made sure the roses were in place. He also spoke about Holt before asking for a moment of silence during his interview.
"He and I would be great friends," Calipari said. "Guys like him ... the rest of our lives we would've been talking to each other. How about we give him that first question and we'll give him a moment of silence?"
Additionally, in-game emcee Jon Williams wore a T-shirt with a screen printing of Holt interviewing former Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson.
Williams said during the pregame activities, "This is Nolan Richardson court but we're here to talk about this other guy today. Love you, Bob."
Lead referee Don Shows, an Arkansas native, asked UA media relations director Mike Cawood to pass along condolences from the officiating crew to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile, who had been interviewed by Holt many times in his two seasons, opened the player news conference with some remarks.
"Obviously a sad week in Arkansas," Brazile said. "You know, we lost Bob Holt ... so that's sad for every Razorbacks fan and our organization included.
"Personally, I had a great relationship with Bob. There's like this little sound bite of us last year having an interview, and had a great time."
Boogie down
After his late game-saving measures and a team-high 18 points in Tuesday's 76-73 win at Miami, Arkansas guard Boogie Fland had a less-than-scintillating follow up against the Roadrunners.
Fland shot 3 for 11, including 0 of 3 from three-point range, to finish with a season-low 6 points. He added 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 1 steal. Fland was 0 for 4 in the first half and 3 for 7 in the second half.
"He has freedom within how we're playing to go do what he does," Arkansas Coach John Calipari said. "Here's what I think of him. Triple-double: Points, rebounds ... assists.
"You know what, to be that guy, whew do you got to go hard. The entire time you're in there. You can't take plays off. You can't jog.
Hot 'Nelly'
Johnell Davis, whom teammates call Nelly, entered Saturday having shot 53% from three-point range over the last three games. His hot shooting started against Maryland-Eastern Shore and continued Saturday.
The Florida Atlantic transfer, who struggled to start his lone season with the Razorbacks, finished with 13 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting to continue his strong run. Davis also contributed 3 assists and a block.
"We all know how well he can shoot it, so it's just him going the game and having the confidence to do it in the game," forward Trevon Brazile said. "When he's shooting like that, it spreads the defense out and adds another three-ball there."
Turnovers
Arkansas finished the first half with eight turnovers. UTSA scored just two points off of them, but the Razorbacks missed out on eight possessions and chances to take a lead into halftime. The Roadrunners led 32-27 at the break, with that lead being cut down as D.J. Wagner hit a three-pointer with four seconds remaining.
Arkansas finished with 15 turnovers, which kept UTSA close throughout.
Conversely, the Roadrunners had 9 turnovers and 7 assists. Coach John Calipari likened playing against UTSA to facing former coach John Chaney's Temple teams that didn't move the ball as much.
"Their team would end with three or four turnovers because they'd hold it and one guy would go and they'd shot clock it late, and they just didn't turn it over," Calipari said. They didn't make a whole lot of passes. They made one or two, and that guy did it.
"So how you play sometimes dictates that. We could have had a couple more steals, but they were sprayed all the way 25, 30 feet out, and some of that, you got to give it to them."
Acrobatics
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile had two of the most dynamic plays of the game in a short stretch of the second half.
Brazile stole a Primo Spears inbounds pass on the Roadrunners' end and had clear sailing for a one-hand slam and a 50-41 Arkansas lead at the 10:20 mark.
A few possessions later in transition, Johnell Davis saw Brazile running into the paint and fed the 6-10 junior for an uncontested alley-oop dunk way above the rim.
Jonas Aidoo, a 6-11 senior transfer, made his first start as a Razorback and had a quick impact.