FAYETTEVILLE — After three consecutive stress-filled games — including two in exhibition play — 16th-ranked Arkansas had no trouble Saturday.
The Razorbacks defeated Gardner-Webb 86-69 at Bud Walton Arena to improve to 2-0.
Arkansas closed the first half on a 27-5 run to take control. The Razorbacks led 42-26 at halftime after briefly trailing by as many as six points.
Connor Vanover scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in his first action of the season for Arkansas. Vanover, a 7-3 junior from Little Rock, did not play in the season opener against Mercer four days earlier, but started against the Runnin’ Bulldogs and made 7 of 12 field goal in 17 minutes.