FAYETTEVILLE — It had been a while since Connor Vanover got in a basketball game for the University of Arkansas.
Try eight months.
Vanover didn’t play in the final three games last season when the Razorbacks made an NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight, then didn’t play in this season’s opener against Mercer.
But the 7-3 junior from Little Rock started on Saturday and made the most of his opportunity as No. 16 Arkansas beat Gardner-Webb 86-69 in Walton Arena.
Vanover had 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 2 assists in 17 minutes.