The Arkansas men’s basketball team opened its Baha Mar Summer League exhibition schedule with a dominant 106-59 victory over the Bahamas national team on Friday at the BahaMar Convention Center. The Razorbacks utilized a 10-man rotation to force 26 turnovers and record 13 blocks, scoring 37 points off those turnovers and limiting the Bahamas to a 36% shooting night, according to WholeHogSports.
Associate head coach Kenny Payne coached the game in place of John Calipari, who chose to observe the action from the stands. The victory marks the first of four exhibition games for the Razorbacks as they begin preparations for the 2026-27 season, following their 2026 SEC Tournament championship win.
Veteran and Freshman Contributions
Billy Richmond III, the team’s lone rotational returner from last season, led the early effort by giving Arkansas a 4-0 lead via two layups. Richmond finished the contest with 16 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds. In the 2025-26 season, Richmond averaged 11.2 points and 4.3 rebounds while starting 19 games and ranking second in the SEC in field-goal percentage at 57.4%, as reported by FloHoops.
The roster features eight first-year players, including four five-star freshmen. Reclassified freshman Davion Thompson contributed back-to-back 3-pointers to extend a 50-19 halftime lead and later ended a stretch of nine consecutive missed field goals with another 3-pointer with 10:31 remaining in the game. Five-star freshman Toure also contributed defensively with a block to stop a Bahamas scoring run in the second half.
Defensive Dominance and Game Flow
Arkansas established control early, holding the Bahamas scoreless until the 16:26 mark of the first half and preventing them from scoring a field goal until 14:15. The Razorbacks utilized a 14-2 run over 2 minutes and 49 seconds before the first-half under-8 minute timeout and totaled 42 fastbreak points.
The Bahamas did not record a 3-pointer until just before the second-half under-12 minute media timeout. Their most successful stretch occurred just before the second-half under-8 minute timeout, where they hit 4 of 5 shots to bring the score to 81-42 with 7:41 remaining. However, Arkansas responded with a 9-0 run over a 1:17 span, forcing three turnovers and hitting four consecutive field goals.
For the Bahamas, Javez Coleby, a class of 2029 prospect with an offer from Louisville, scored a team-high 18 points.
Personnel Notes and Injuries
The game included a significant injury scare in the first half when Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson hit his head after being unintentionally undercut during a dunk attempt. Wilkinson was evaluated on the floor for an extended period before walking off on his own volition; he remained on site but did not return to the game. I know he was just in there with the doctor, and hopefully he’ll be OK,
Payne said.
The Razorbacks played without five-star freshman Miikka Muurinen. According to 247Sports, Muurinen is in Nassau and participating in team events and practices, but he cannot play in games while awaiting NCAA eligibility clearance. A team spokesperson indicated he is expected to be eligible for exhibition play in October.
Baha Mar Summer League Outlook
Arkansas is using the four-game international slate to integrate new additions, including 7-foot Russian big man Ilia Frolov and 6-foot-11 forward/center Caleb Ourigou. The team aims to build momentum to defend its conference title when the SEC Tournament returns to Nashville in March.
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| July 31 | The Bahamas National Team |
| Aug. 1 | Carleton University |
| Aug. 4 | University of Calgary |
