FAYETTEVILLE — Stefan Welsh might not be the quintessential point guard, nor is he a pure scorer.

What he gives Arkansas is energy, which often results in quality minutes like the sophomore produced in Saturday’s 89-67 victory over Delaware State at Walton Arena.

Welsh started his second consecutive game at the point after making only one start his freshman year. He matched his career high in minutes played (25 ) and a personal best with seven assists. His 4-for-7 shooting from threepoint range also helped relieve some of the Razorbacks’ problems from the outside.

Welsh’s consecutive threepointers within 24 seconds in the first half turned a three-point deficit into a 28-25 advantage. The Hornets never led again as Welsh helped break down a tricky Delaware zone.

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“We came out flat and [Delaware State ] was hitting big-time shots,” Welsh said. “We knew that our shots were going to fall. Basketball is a game of runs, and we were going to have ours.”

Welsh and Gary Ervin, the Razorbacks’ starting point guard for most of 2006-2007 and the first three games this season, were flawless Saturday. Neither committed a turnover in a combined 48 minutes.

“You feed off your point guard,” senior wing Sonny Weems said. “When your point guard is playing good, your team’s playing good.”

Welsh, recruited as a player capable of running the point or playing shooting guard, shrugs off what his role is or whether he starts or backs up Ervin.

He looked like a dual threat late in the first half, hitting threepointers and picking up assists on Arkansas’ final three field goals that created some cushion at 43-34.

“That’s what point guards do. They share the sugar,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said.

Welsh’s fourth three-pointer of the game, with 13: 26 left, made it 67-42.

“We were flying around. The crowd was into it,” Welsh said. “We were making the extra passes early on their [defensive ] rotations, and you see the lead go from 10 points to [almost ] 30.

“ I feel like if I’m jumping around, my teammates will do the same.”

Welsh endeared himself to his coach Saturday when he chased down an errant pass that seemed destined for an over-and-back violation in the second half. Welsh made a diving save to send the ball back into the frontcourt and continue the possession.

“That was just an incredible effort,” a smiling Pelphrey said. “That was a big-time play, so I like those things.”