Fayetteville residents saw the No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks secure a 79-66 win over Central Arkansas on Friday night, a result that bolsters the team’s early‑season momentum.

According to ABC News, senior guard Billy Richmond III scored a game‑high 21 points, including 15 in the first half, and was the only Razorback returning from last season. He was supported by four teammates who reached double figures: Miikka Muurinen contributed 11 points, two blocks and three steals; Jeremiah Wilkinson added 14 points; and freshman Jordan Smith Jr. posted 12 points.

WRAL reported that the Razorbacks built a decisive lead with a 15‑2 run over 5 minutes and 12 seconds early in the first half, establishing a double‑digit advantage. Central Arkansas, which entered the game at 2‑2, rallied to within six points on a Harrison Beauchamp jumper with 4:22 left in the second half after trailing by as many as 18, but Wilkinson’s timely three‑pointer sealed the win for Arkansas.

The Bears, the preseason favorites in the United Athletic Conference, were led by Beauchamp’s 14 points and Luke Moore’s 12. The Razorbacks, however, relied heavily on their starters, scoring just 12 bench points after averaging 28.6 per game, a detail noted by both WRAL and The Star.

Smith, a five‑star freshman who had led Arkansas in scoring through the first two games, rebounded from a modest three‑point performance in the prior win over Robert Morris by shooting 5‑of‑6 from the floor and adding three steals, as highlighted by The Star.

Looking ahead, the Razorbacks travel to Oklahoma State on Monday for their next matchup against Central Arkansas, while the program’s next non‑conference test comes on Tuesday in New York City against Indiana, according to the AP wire cited by ABC News and WRAL.

Sources: arkansasonline.com, abcnews.com, wral.com, thestar.com