FAYETTEVILLE – Khalif Battle was named the SEC Player of the Week, the league announced today, as the graduate senior helped the Razorbacks go 2-0 thanks. Battle had a career-high 42-point performance versus Missouri and scored 15 points in the win at Texas A&M. For the week, Battle averaged 28.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and was 23-of-24 from the free throw line.
Battle’s 42 points were the most by an SEC player this season and seventh-most by a Razorback all time. He was just the third Razorback to score at least 40 points in an SEC game, falling one point shy of Todd Day’s school record for points in SEC game (43 at LSU in 1992.) Battle was 14-of-14 at the free throw line, the best effort in a league game ever by a Razorback and 1-of-5 Hogs to go at least 14-of-14 at the line in a game all time. He additionally set career highs with 11 field goals made, 14 free throws made and 14 free throws attempted while tying a career-high with six 3-pointers made and his six rebounds tied his season high.
In the first half versus Mizzou and Arkansas down two, Battle scored a team-best nine points in a 14-7 run to put the Hogs up five. In the second half with Arkansas down three, Battle scored 19 in a 24-10 run to put the Hogs up 11. In the run, he had back-to-back 3’s to turn a 1-point Arkansas lead into a 7-point lead and capped the run with a 4-point play (making a 3-pointer and free throw).
To start the week, Battle scored 15 in the win at Texas A&M, going 9-of-10 at the line. He added four rebounds and tied his season-high with two steals. He scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half to help the Razorbacks lead, 35-31, at the break. Eight of those 10 points came during an 18-6 run. To close the game, Battle went 5-of-6 at the line inside the final 1:15 to secure the win.
Battle and the Razorbacks return to action Tuesday by hosting Vanderbilt at 8 pm (CT).
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