Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – B.J. Young's 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists provided the lift Arkansas needed Saturday night to break open a close game down the stretch, turning a six-point lead with 7:56 to go into a 79-61 victory over visiting Northwestern State.
 
The Razorbacks (8-4) used a 10-1 run over four minutes to take a 71-55 lead with 3:30 to go after not being able to take control previously, despite never trailing. The Demons (5-4), playing for the first time in two weeks and for only the second time in 25 days, could not overcome 27 percent shooting aim, including 1-of-14 on 3-pointers, or a 57-41 rebounding deficit.
 
NSU got no closer than 47-44 with 13:47 remaining, and never had the ball afterward with a chance to tie or take the lead. Arkansas, after being harried into 14 turnovers in the game's first 28 minutes, did not lose the ball in the final 12 minutes.
 
The Demons got 16 points and 10 rebounds by James Hulbin, and 10 points apiece from DeQuan Hicks and Jalan West. The visitors didn't take enough advantage of 42 free throw attempts, making only 62 percent (26) as the Razorbacks committed 26 fouls to 14 by NSU.
 
“Our effort was really good, but we didn't get shots to fall in close, from behind the 3-point line, or often enough at the free throw line,” said Demons' coach Mike McConathy. “B.J. Young had quite a night. That's an awesome stat line that reflects the impact he had tonight.
 
“Arkansas is so well coached and they work very, very hard for 40 minutes. I'm not faulting our effort, but I am saluting theirs. They made the plays to break open the game and in that stretch, just like all night long, there was Young rebounding, there he was making an assist, there he was with a basket or a couple free throws (he shot 7-8 at the line). They followed his lead.”
 
Both teams finished with 14 turnovers. NSU's 61-point total was a season low for a team ranked second nationally in scoring, while the Razorbacks approached their 10^th-ranked 83-point average.
 
The game was the first in a hectic stretch for the Demons, who will play seven times in 14 days beginning with the Arkansas contest. The next three contests are at home, all next week, beginning Monday at 2 with a non-conference game against LeTourneau.
 
Southland Conference play begins Thursday in Prather Coliseum as McNeese visits.