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Charlotte showed a lot at No. 12 Arkansas. What we learned about 49ers basketball

The pace and pressure of No. 12 Arkansas proved to be the difference on Tuesday night, routing the visiting Charlotte 49ers, 86-66, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

JD Notae led the way with 23 points for Eric Musselman’s Razorbacks, scoring his sixth-career double-double and securing their ninth straight win to start the season. Arkansas was an Elite 8 team in March, losing to eventual national champion Baylor. Musselman reloaded, bringing in a handful of transfers who accounted for over 4,000 points in their combined collegiate careers. But Tuesday iit was his returning players that propelled Arkansas

Notae added 10 rebounds and four steals, accompanied by Jaylin Williams’ career-high 15 points and three steals.

It was a 17-4 Razorbacks’ run midway through the half that broke a 14-all tie, establishing a double-digit lead that would only grow in the second half. Charlotte battled back early, but Arkansas scored with ease while the 49ers battled for every bucket.

A night of good production from the Razorbacks’ new faces proved to be the opposite for Charlotte’s.

Miami transfer Chris Lykes scored 13 points off the night off the bench for Arkansas. Another ACC transfer, former Clemson Tiger Clyde Trapp Jr, struggled for the 49ers, being held to just two points, his lowest point total on the season.

The 49ers fell to 4-4 on the season following their first matchup against a ranked opponent under coach Ron Sanchez.

Here is what we learned from Charlotte’s first road loss of the season:

ARKANSAS’ SIZE WAS TOO MUCH

The Razorbacks were led by Notae and Williams’ combined 41 points and a lopsided performance on the glass, outrebounding Charlotte 41-21. Williams, the 6-foot-10 sophomore, played his best collegiate game in the win.

Arkansas’ size inside created extra possessions, repeatedly recording 15 offensive boards and 18 second-chance points.

With six fewer possessions on the game, the 49ers needed to shoot well from beyond the arc to remain competitive. Sanchez’s group connected on just six of their 24 attempts from 3.

The Razorbacks were securing the long rebounds and leaking out for easy fastbreak layups. Arkansas converted 21 of their 28 attempts around the basket in the win, including 50 points in the paint. Charlotte’s Aly Khalifa was met multiple times by the 7-foot-3 frame of Connor Vanover, resulting in multiple blocked shots at the basket.

JAHMIR YOUNG STRUGGLES

Jahmir Young leads the 49ers scoring 19.7 points per game, including a 26-point season-high in their last game against George Washington. He struggled Tuesday night, scoring 10 points in the loss. Young brought the energy early, capitalizing on a backdoor feed from Aly Khalifa for a dunk, then splitting a double team and finishing through contact for a left-handed layup.

He rallied the 49ers in the first half, finding Jared Garcia and Jackson Threadgill in transition to cut Arkansas’ lead to six, the closest Charlotte would get. The 49ers recorded eight assists on their first 11 makes, capitalizing on backdoor cuts and dribble handoffs. Arkansas improved its rotations in the second half, cutting off the open lanes and limiting easy looks inside.

Young struggled in the second half following the Razorbacks’ adjustments, forcing him to give up the ball and keeping a hand in his face at every shot attempt. The 49ers are still waiting for Bryce Williams, their second-leading scorer from 2020, to return to the lineup. Until then, the pressure will continue to be on Young to carry the 49ers down the stretch.

TRAPP GAME

Trapp struggled with the Razorbacks’ pressure throughout, summed up by turning it over on consecutive possessions late in the first half. Arkansas scored 14 points off the 49ers’ 12 turnovers, doubling their lead in the final 20 minutes.

Charlotte needed a second primary ball-handler in this contest and Trapp didn’t answer the bell. The Clemson transfer was held scoreless in the first half and was unable to get into a flow, being held to just 2 points. Notae provided the on-ball pressure throughout. The Razorbacks’ crowd singled out Trapp, booing him at every touch wire to wire.

Trapp has played in plenty of lively road environments through his four years in the ACC, but Tuesday night was a rough outing for the Eastover, S.C., native.

Charlotte needs Trapp to become a consistent ball-handler and scorer for the 49ers to achieve their goals.