OT victory can help coach teach

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey got a victory Friday night, and an opportunity to get his team’s attention for practices.

“This is the best lesson we can get right now,” Pelphrey said after the Razorbacks beat Southeastern Louisiana 91-87 in overtime at Walton Arena. “To get challenged and find some incredible way to win...

“ Now I get to go back and scream and yell off of a win about, ‘What do you think ? This is my first time through ? I know what I’m talking about. You need to pay attention.’

“ The difficult thing is when you lose and you’ve got to go back and try and have those conversations. It’s not nearly as effective.” Working overtime

Arkansas improved to 3-0 in overtime games in season openers. In records going back to the 1923-1924 season, before Friday night’s victory, the only other overtime games in a season opener for the Razorbacks happened when they beat Kansas 64-62 on Dec. 3, 1963, and when they beat Texas-Arlington 102-95 on Nov. 22, 1999. All three of Arkansas’ overtime victories in an opener were in Fayetteville.

Mixed results Arkansas freshman point guard Courtney Fortson had seven assists in his college debut, but also six turnovers.

“I think the seven assists are indicative of what he can do, making guys better,” Coach John Pelphrey said. “The six turnovers, he’s trying to figure it out, too. It’s his first time through... and we haven’t played a lot of ball together.”

Pelphrey said Fortson’s turnovers will decrease as he gains experience and gets used to his new teammates.

“The thing that you can’t teach is the way he gets in the lane, the way he finishes plays,” Pelphrey said. “He just keeps coming back, coming back. You like that.

“ We can coach and work on some of the other stuff.”

Smart play Southeastern Louisiana figured to get the final shot in regulation when the Lions inbounded the ball at midcourt with 3. 5 seconds left and the game tied 77-77.

But Arkansas junior guard Stefan Welsh got in good position after the inbounds pass and drew a charge from Kevyn Green with 2. 7 seconds left.

While the Razorbacks weren’t able to get off a shot after gaining possession, Welsh’s play assured them of getting a chance to win in overtime.

“That was all Stefan Welsh,” Coach John Pelphrey said. “That was pretty good on his behalf.” Beware of Southland

Southeastern Louisiana was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference East Division in a preseason poll of conference coaches and sports information directors.

The teams picked 1-2 ahead of Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland East — Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern (La. ) State — play at Arkansas later this season.

Free throws Arkansas hit 24 of 42 free throws Friday night, but was 9 of 12 in the final 2: 27 of overtime. Junior forward Michael Washington was 5 of 6 from the line in overtime after being 4 of 10 in regulation. “I think he understood the situation,” Coach John Pelphrey said. “He had a determined look.” Pressing matter Southeastern Louisiana limited its turnovers to 14 against Arkansas’ full-court press, but the Lions might have worn down. They were 3 of 10 on free throws in the final 2: 10 of regulation and the five-minute overtime period, including missing the front end of two 1-and-1 opportunities. “If you keep giving a team chances, eventually they will take advantage of them,” Lions Coach Jim Yarbrough said.

Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said while he’d love to see steals off the press, another reason for employing it is to cause fatigue.

“I don’t know whether we did or not, but we were able to hang in there,” Pelphrey said.