Ervin gets going with the start

FAYETTEVILLE — Maybe Arkansas had the right idea starting Gary Ervin at point guard and bringing Stefan Welsh off the bench.

Since Game 4 against Virginia Commonwealth, Welsh had been starting with Ervin coming off the bench. The roles were reversed Wednesday in Arkansas’ 87-61 victory over LSU.

Ervin made his fourth start and was replaced by Welsh at the 17: 20 mark. But both Razorbacks point guards were a hit, particularly in the first half when they combined for 17 points. Coach John Pelphrey told Ervin he would start during the shootaround earlier in the day. “I don’t know what it is. It was just a decision Coach decided to make,” Ervin said. “Honestly, it was a surprise. But I don’t feel it’s going to change anything about the way I play. Whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, I want to play with intensity.” Ervin scored 17 points and Welsh added 10. Pelphrey didn’t elaborate on why he made a change after 22 games, but he said when Ervin and Welsh are as productive as they were on Wednesday, Arkansas has a chance to win a lot of games.

Big guys help Arkansas’ 9-of-13 three-point shooting was the story of the Razorbacks’ 51-28 halftime lead, but big men Darian Townes and Steven Hill made their mark as well. Hill had two blocks in the half but altered many other shots

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asket as the Tigers scored 10 points in the lane. Hill also followed a Michael Washington miss with a twohanded slam for a 38-18 lead. “Steve’s playing really well right now,” Coach John Pelphrey aid. “H ’ etting tip-ins and cleaning up around the basket. I just think those are huge plays. Certainly defensively he’s awesome.” Townes came off the bench to hit 6 of 6 from the field, with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. In the first half, Townes finished off a 21-0 run with a tip-in a few minutes after working inside for a slam. “We talk about when he’s getting double-teamed making the right reads,” Pelphrey said of Townes. “And that’s pretty unique for a big man who’s getting double-teamed to get four assists and no turnovers.”

Nothing for free Arkansas is 55 of 94 (59 percent ) from the free-throw line during the past four games, including Wednesday’s 10-for-18 showing. “It’s bizarre,” Coach John Pelphrey said of shooting so poorly from the line despite shooting 52. 4 percent from the field and 47. 8 percent from three-point range against LSU. “We can make threes and make twos but can’t make free throws.... I think it’s a mental thing. I don’t know what it is.” Fistful of Dollars LSU assistant coach Chad Dollar had more than a rooting interest when Arkansas played UCLA in the 1995 NCAA Championship Game.

Chad is the older brother of Cameron Dollar, who played at UCLA and helped break Arkansas’ heart in the national championship game.

The Razorbacks, favored to beat the Bruins, thought they had gotten a break when UCLA starting point guard Tyus Edney played three minutes with a hand injury. Enter unheralded Dollar, who scored 6 points but had team highs with 8 assists and 4 steals in 36 valuable minutes running the point in an 89-78 victory.

“I remember that game and that was a special moment for him and for our family; anytime you can come in and win a national championship and do the things he did, it was special,” Dollar said. “As coaches now we really respect what Arkansas was doing and the run they were having. You look back and enjoy it even more.”

Cameron Dollar followed in Chad’s footsteps and is an assistant coach at Washington.