Illinois uses three-point barrage to down No. 19 Arkansas

It was an onslaught of three-point baskets by Illinois (6-1) and a multitude of missed free throws by No. 19 Arkansas (5-2) that led to the Illini's 90-77 win over the Razorbacks in Kansas City on Thursday. 

Illinois made 15 three-point shots, while Arkansas missed 11 free throws. An 11-0 spurt by Illinois to start the contest set the tone on an afternoon where the Hogs were always playing catch-up. 

Arkansas is now 0-2 this year in games against Power Four competition, as No. 17 Baylor handed Arkansas its first loss of the season on Nov. 9. 

Kasparas Jakucionis led Illinois in scoring with 23 points, with Tomislav Ivisic adding 21 points of his own.  Adou Thiero was the star of the show for Arkansas, scoring 26 points and snagging six rebounds in the loss. Zvonimir Ivisic (13 points) and Billy Richmond III (12 points) also got into double figures for the Razorbacks. 

Illinois made 15 three-point shots compared to Arkansas' five and converted on 68.2 percent of its free throw attempts compared to Arkansas' 59.3 percent conversion rate. 

The Illini also out-rebounded Arkansas 34 to 31. 

John Calipari and the Razorbacks will have little time to reflect on the loss as a road trip to another Power Four opponent looms on Dec. 3. The Razorbacks will travel to Miami on Tuesday in search of its first Power Four victory of the season. 

Illinois — who may find itself ranked in the AP Top 25 following the win over Arkansas — will travel to Northwestern on Dec. 6 to begin Big 10 play.