FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Hanging around in the second half and showing spurts of strong play, the Pacific men's basketball program battled in a 91-72 defeat at No. 18 Arkansas on Monday at Bud Walton Arena.
 
The Tigers (3-3) had a look to tie the game with 14 minutes left and trailed just 59-57 at the 12:57 to go before the Razorbacks (3-1) were able to create separation down the stretch. The Tigers drained a season-high 12 three-pointers and were 12-of-13 (.923) from the free throw line.
 
Sophomore Elijah Fisher and junior Lamar Washington played 40 minutes apiece. Fisher recorded a season-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Washington poured in a career-high 19 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists.
 
A double-double came from senior Elias Ralph with 12 points and 10 rebounds. It was his second straight double-double after tallying 23 points and 11 rebounds against Northern Arizona on Thursday.
 
Fisher and Ralph, both from Canada, continued their streaks of reaching double-figure scoring in every game this year.
 
Junior Jefferson Koulibaly buried four three-pointers to end with 12 points.
 
The Tigers trailed 10-8 early after threes by Koulibaly and Washington. Though, Arkansas went on a 17-3 run to build a 27-11 edge at the 10:07 mark.
 
Pacific didn't go away and responded with an 11-0 spurt which included threes by Koulibaly, Fisher and senior Petar Krivokapic to trail 27-22 with 8:11 remaining. A fast-paced first half ended with a lay-up by Fisher as the Tigers trailed 44-37 at the break.
 
A three by Krivokapic made it a 46-42 game with 18:40 to go. The Tigers came as close as 59-57 at the 12:57 mark after an old-fashion three-point play by Washington.
 
Arkansas pulled away down the stretch. It got its lead back up to double-figures with eight minutes left but the Tigers fought the entire way.
 
Pacific will remain on the road Friday for another stiff test when it battles Missouri at 4:30 p.m. (PT). The next home game is Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 

Tigers trail just 50-47 after a bucket by L. Washington.#PacificProud pic.twitter.com/onPO6v6Sk6

— Pacific Men's Basketball (@PacificMensBB) November 19, 2024

NOTES
- Monday was the first-ever meeting between Pacific and Arkansas. It was also Pacific's first-ever game in the state of Arkansas.
 
- The Tigers registered a season-high 10 steals. Fisher, Koulibaly, Ralph and junior Seth Jones grabbed two apiece.
 
- Arkansas entered the game ranked eighth in the nation in blocks with 7.3 per game but only swatted away three against the Tigers.
 
- Ralph is the first Tiger to submit double-doubles in consecutive games since Jordan Bell in 2020-21. It was his 14th career double-double and third of the season.
 
- Fisher surpassed his previous season-high of 21 points, set twice. He was two shy of his career-high 25 points set last season as a member of DePaul. It was the second time in his career that he played 40 minutes and first as a Tiger.
 
- Washington topped his previous career-high of 14 points set earlier this season in a win against San Jose State. His seven made field goals were a career-best. It was Washington's fifth career double-digit scoring game and third this season.
 
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