FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — B.J. Mack had a game-high 18 points, Zachary Davis added 12 points and South Carolina pulled away early to beat Arkansas 77-64 Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.
South Carolina (15-3, 3-2 SEC) led the entire game and knocked down nine three-pointers, including five in the first half, to build a 33-21 lead and hand the Razorbacks (10-8, 1-4 SEC) their fourth loss in the last five games.
Arkansas's offensive woes continued, shooting just 37.1% from the field and 5 of 18 (27.8%) behind the three-point line with only nine assists, five below the conference average of 14.4 per game.
13 different Hogs took the court in the loss to South Carolina as head coach Eric Musselman searched for a group who would produce on offense and defense.
Tramon Mark paced the Razorbacks with 18 points, two rebounds and one assist, while El Ellis contributed eight points, two rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes of action.
Mark knocked down two consecutive three-pointers to make it 49-42 with 12:52 remaining, but that seven-point deficit would be the closest the Hogs would get in the second half.
Shortly after seeing its lead slip to single digits, South Carolina responded with a 13-1 run to take a 64-45 lead, its largest of the game with just under nine minutes to play.
Arkansas allowed the Gamecocks to shoot a blistering 51.9% from the field and 9 of 18 (50%) from three. South Carolina was the more physical team and out-hustled the Razorbacks all game, securing eight offensive rebounds and finishing with 38 points in the paint.
With the loss, the Hogs are 0-8 when trailing by 10 or more points this season.
Arkansas returns to action on the road against Ole Miss on Jan. 24. Coverage from The Pavillion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., begins at 8:00 p.m. Central on ESPNU.