SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Arkansas’ turnovers in the first half against College of Charleston nearly matched the Razorbacks ’ national ranking.

Not a good thing considering the Razorbacks are No. 18 in the polls, but they overcame 17 firsthalf turnovers and 26 for the game to beat the Cougars 74-49 Thursday night in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tipoff Tournament.

“It was like we were playing College of Charleston and ourselves in the first half,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. “It’s hard enough in college basketball to play the other team, let alone make it hard on yourself.

“ Every way you can imagine turning the ball over without a team pressuring us happened in the first half.”

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Despite their ball-handling problems, the Razorbacks (2-0 ) won by 25 points because they outrebounded College of Charleston 53-27 and the Cougars shot 28. 6 percent from the field (18 of 63 ).

“We can put the ball in the bucket,” College of Charleston sophomore guard Tony White said. “But it just seemed like it had a lid on it tonight.”

The Razorbacks must have felt as if the ball had butter on it the way they handled it, especially in the first half.

“Our turnovers were pretty out of control,” said Arkansas senior center Steven Hill, who had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 3 turnovers. “We’ve definitely got to get a hold of that. We’re not going to be able to win very many ballgames turning the ball over that much.”

Sophomore guard Patrick Beverley had team-highs of 16 points and 7 rebounds for the Razorbacks, but also had 4 turnovers.

“At times we got lackadaisical with our passes,” Beverley said. “We know we’ve got to take better care of the ball.”

Early in the game, the Razorbacks turned the ball over by trying to be too aggressive on fast-break opportunities or forcing the ball inside against College of Charleston’s zone.

Pelphrey said those mistakes led to the team playing too cautiously, which created more turnovers.

“They weren’t pressing us, they weren’t trapping us, so it wasn’t a physical thing,” Pelphrey said. “It’s a mental thing.

“ We’ve talked a lot about how our biggest challenge this year may not be from the physical side, but may be on a 6-inch playing field between our ears.”

The Cougars (0-2 ) missed their first 10 shots and fell behind 16-2, but gradually cut into the lead with the help of Arkansas’ turnovers and pulled within 33-29 on Jermaine Johnson’s shot over Hill with 18: 59 remaining.

“I thought we were right there,” College of Charleston Coach Bobby Cremins said. “We just couldn’t break through.”

Arkansas finally got its fast break going and went on a 13-0 run, including six points by Beverley and four by senior forward Sonny Weems, to push its lead to 46-29 with 15: 35 left.

The Cougars didn’t pull closer than 11 points the rest of the game.

Weems was scoreless in the first half, when he played just five minutes because of two fouls, but scored 10 points in the second half to help fuel Arkansas’ strong finish.

Senior forward Darian Townes had 11 points for the Razorbacks, who play Providence (1-0 ) at 4: 30 p. m. Central today in the tournament’s second round.

The Friars beat Temple 66-64 Thursday in their season opener.

“They’re a Big East school with good coaches and good players,” Pelphrey said. “We certainly have to play better than we did [Thursday ] to have a chance to win the game.”