FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men's Basketball opened the 2026-27 season Monday with an 81-54 victory over University of the Ozarks at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lions shot 49.1 percent from the floor and had a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint. The Lions also had a 10-2 edge in second chance points after winning the rebounding battle, 47-21.
UAFS held just a 23-19 lead late in the first half before Will Ashford and Chancellor White went on a 9-0 run to put the Lions ahead, 32-19. UAFS took a 42-29 lead into halftime.
The Lions opened the second half by extending the lead to as many as 20 before the Eagles went on a 10-0 run to pull within 54-44 with 10:32 remaining.
UAFS answered with an 11-0 run in just over two minutes as the Lions put the game out of reach.
Jarren McAllister led the Lions with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting while White and Dominic Gooden each tallied 12 points. Gooden was 7-for-7 from the foul line. Aiden Buckmon and Dakotah Terrell both scored nine points for the Lions, with Terrell pulling down seven rebounds.
Donovan Black recorded a team-high eight rebounds for the Lions while Ashford dished out six assists.
UAFS is back in action Friday at against East Central in the Tulsa Tip-Off Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
