Virginia routs Arkansas in Washington
The Cavaliers led by as many as 27 points in a 91-72 victory, while other nonconference results included wins for Houston and St. John's.
By Grace Almasi ·
Collegiate basketball featured a slate of nonconference results on Sunday, with top-ranked teams asserting their dominance across multiple venues.
In the marquee matchup of the day, No. 9 Virginia defeated No. 12 Arkansas by a score of 91-72. The game was played in Washington, marking the first time in program history that the Razorbacks competed in the city. A previous meeting in 1985 took place in Landover, Maryland. The venue hosted a split crowd, with Arkansas supporters present alongside the local fan base for the Cavaliers.
Thijs De Ridder led Virginia with 16 points. The team had five players score in double figures, contributing to a balanced offensive effort. Sam Lewis also recorded 16 points, while Johann Grunloh and Chance Mallory finished with 15 points each. Nolan Adekunle added 13 points for the Cavaliers. For Arkansas, Jordan Smith Jr. provided the team's best scoring performance with 19 points.
The Cavaliers established a 46-27 lead at halftime. Virginia extended their margin to 27 points during the second half. An unusual occurrence took place during a stoppage in the latter half when two birds entered the arena and landed on the court. Players chased the birds away before play resumed.
Elsewhere, No. 10 Houston defeated California 86-68 in the first edition of the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic, held in Stateline, Nevada. Dedan Thomas Jr. contributed 20 points and eight assists for the Cougars. Joseph Tugler added 16 points and four blocked shots. Delrecco Gillespie recorded 13 points and eight rebounds, while Chase McCarty finished with 11 points. Houston shot 52 percent from the field and outscored California 50-24 in the paint.
In the same tournament, No. 21 Southern California beat Wichita State 93-86. Rodney Rice scored 32 points and dished out nine assists. Alijah Arenas added 30 points. The Trojans made only two three-pointers but relied on free throws and turnover advantages to secure the win. Wichita State led 45-43 at halftime after hitting seven of its first 12 three-point attempts.
No. 13 St. John's defeated Iona 105-65 in their season debut at Madison Square Garden. Tounde Yessoufou scored 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including four three-pointers. The Baylor transfer also recorded seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Ian Jackson added 17 points, hitting three three-pointers in the opening minutes. St. John's has now scored at least 100 points in three games under head coach Rick Pitino.
The results solidify the early records of several teams, with Virginia and Houston moving to 3-0 and 2-0, respectively, while Arkansas falls to 1-1.
