The Arkansas men’s basketball team opened its 2026 international exhibition tour on Friday in Nassau, Bahamas, defeating the Bahamas national team 106-59 at the Baha Mar Convention Center. Jordan Smith led all scorers with 22 points, while associate head coach Kenny Payne managed the squad as John Calipari observed from the stands.
Defensive Dominance Sparks 106-59 Victory in Nassau
The Razorbacks forced 26 turnovers and recorded 13 blocks, turning defensive pressure into 37 points and coasting to a dominant 106-59 win over the Bahamas national team on Friday evening. Operating primarily out of a 10-man rotation, Arkansas limited its opponents to a 36% shooting night.
Associate head coach Kenny Payne directed the team from the sideline while John Calipari watched from the spectator stands. I think it’s just an example of what we’re capable of,
Payne said, noting that the squad has spent minimal time on defensive installations during summer workouts. We haven’t really focused a lot of defense — we never do in the summer — but we have tough-minded, long athletes that will get after you.
“I was always taught that defense wins championships from a young age and I still believe in that philosophy to this day. I’m just hoping that my mentality can carry on into college because that defensive performance that we had today was unbelievable.”
Jordan Smith, Arkansas guard, via WholeHogSports
Freshman Standouts and Veteran Returners Lead the Box Score
Arkansas placed five players in double figures. Smith set the pace with 22 points, while freshman Abdou Toure contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists. Coach has been on me about playing hard,
Toure said after the matchup (as reported by KARK). I just went out there with the mentality to be a dog and do anything it takes to win.
Billy Richmond III, who returned to the Razorbacks after testing the NBA Draft waters, contributed 16 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Richmond scored Arkansas’ first four points on a pair of layups, including a strong Eurostep drive.
Roster Developments and Injury Notes from the Baha Mar Summer League
The exhibition tour serves as an early showcase for John Calipari’s 2026-27 roster configuration, which features four incoming freshmen and lowers the active team’s average age to 18 years and 7 months. However, five-star freshman Miikka Muurinen missed Friday’s opener while awaiting final NCAA eligibility clearance. Although Muurinen traveled to Nassau and participates in team practices, he remains sidelined for games (noted 247Sports).
For the Bahamas, class of 2029 prospect Javez Coleby led the scoring effort with 18 points. The Bahamian squad played without NBA regulars such as VJ Edgecombe, Buddy Hield, and DeAndre Ayton, fielding a roster featuring international professionals and former collegiate players.
Next Schedule Details in the Bahamas
Arkansas continues its four-game international exhibition schedule at the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League. All remaining games from the summer tour stream live on FloSports platforms.
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