Arkansas freshman earns SEC honor

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Following a dominant performance in a win over No. 14 Minnesota Saturday, freshman forward Daniel Gafford has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week the league office announced Monday morning.

The 6-11 big man helped Arkansas go 2-0 last week with home wins over the Colorado State Rams and the nationally ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. Gafford combined to go 13-of-17 from the floor, including a perfect 8-of-8 performance against Minnesota.

He became the seventh Razorback player in the last 30 years to go 8-of-8 or better from the floor and is the first Razorback to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors since Anton Beard on Feb. 23, 2015.

Against the Gophers, Gafford finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and a career-high six blocks and added 14 points and six rebounds in a 26-point victory over Colorado State.

The El Dorado, Arkansas, native is responsible for 21 of Arkansas’ 37 dunks and has recorded more dunks than six SEC teams. He ranks in the top five in the SEC among freshmen in scoring, rebounds and blocks.

Arkansas returns to the floor on Saturday in North Little Rock to face the Troy Trojans (5-5) at 7 p.m. in Verizon Arena. Tickets to the game can be purchased by clicking here.

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