Report: Arkansas skips handshake line following upset loss to Vanderbilt

Saturday’s game between Arkansas and Vanderbilt got tense in the first half and it remained that way the rest of the game. After the Commodores completed their comeback to upset the Razorbacks, things took another turn as Arkansas apparently skipped the handshake line.

According to Bryce Smith, the sports editor of the Vandy Hustler student newspaper, Arkansas headed straight to the locker room as Vanderbilt lined up for the handshake line. The game featured multiple technical fouls and, late in the first half, Commodores guard Ezra Manjon was ejected for shoving Arkansas guard Anthony Black. Coach Jerry Stackhouse also received a technical foul, Arkansas wound up shooting seven free throws once the dust settled.

Vanderbilt wound up winning the game 97-84, handing Arkansas its fifth loss of the season and its fourth in SEC play.

#Vanderbilt goes in for the hand shake, but Arkansas is already headed for the locker room

‘Dores circle around to a still-full student section pic.twitter.com/xMU95QF2bP

— Bryce Smith (@BryceSmith_27) January 14, 2023

Arkansas took an eight-point lead into halftime, but Vanderbilt flipped the script in the second half, outscoring the Razorbacks 63-42 after the break. A 22-point performance from Tyrin Lawrence and 17 points off the bench from Jordan Wright helped propel the Commodores’ offensive attack.

Ezra Manjon ejected, Jerry Stackhouse assessed technical foul as Arkansas gets seven free throws following scuffle vs Vanderbilt

Razorbacks guard Anthony Black went up for a layup and Vanderbilt big man Quentin Millora-Brown went to the ground after going for the block. Black appeared to look over him afterward and was shoved by Vandebilt guard Ezra Manjon, who was assessed two technical fouls and subsequently ejected. As the referees explained what happened, Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse was also given a technical foul and tossed his clipboard in frustration as he headed back toward the bench.

That brought the grand total to seven free throws for Arkansas with 49.8 seconds to play in the first half.

After making six of the seven attempts from the line, Arkansas saw its lead grow to 42-32. Vanderbilt made two free throws of its own later on to ultimately make it a 42-34 Razorbacks lead at halftime as the team headed to the locker rooms.

This isn’t the first time Stackhouse’s frustration resulted in a technical foul this season. He also got thrown out of a game against VCU in November and had to be escorted off the court after officials called a technical foul on Liam Robbins.

Vanderbilt brought an 8-8 overall record into Saturday’s game, including a 1-2 mark in SEC play. The Commodores are coming off back-to-back losses to Mizzou and Tennessee, and Vols coach Rick Barnes predicted Stackhouse and Co. could still find a way to make the NCAA Tournament.