FAYETTEVILLE -- For Arkansas forward Bobby Portis and guard Michael Qualls, what happened in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas.
Their strong play from last summer at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas, where they were among 32 college players invited to the NBA star's camp, has carried over into this season.
"Me and Mike need to come back and be leaders to our basketball team," Portis said in July after returning from Las Vegas. "Every person who was at that camp is a leader to his team."
Either Portis, a 6-11 sophomore, or Qualls, a 6-6 junior, has led the Razorbacks (9-2) in scoring 10 out of 11 games. Seven times they have combined to score 31 or more points with highs of 39 against Clemson and Southeast Missouri State.
Before Arkansas took a short Christmas break, Portis scored 18 points and Qualls 17 in the Razorbacks' 84-54 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Portis has scored 18 or more points in five consecutive games, the first Razorback to do that since All-American forward Corliss Williamson during the 1993-1994 season when Arkansas won the national championship.
"They're playing at a much higher level now," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said of Portis and Qualls after beating Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "That's what we've been looking for Michael to do.
"Bobby's been doing it all year long, and now it seems like here lately Michael has started picking up what he brings to the team.
"When you get multiple guys playing at a high level, it's easier for other guys to follow their lead."
Portis is averaging 16.7 points and shooting 57.0 percent from the field, and Qualls is averaging 14.6 points and shooting 47.7 percent going into Arkansas' game against Northwestern (La.) State at 2:30 p.m. today in Walton Arena.
The combined 31.3 points per game average by Portis and Qualls ranks second among tandems in the SEC behind the 32.7 points by LSU sophomore forwards Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey, both of whom also attended the LeBron James Skills Academy.
"It's a real cool thing," Qualls said. "I feel like me and BP click well. We try to have a good two-man game where I come off his screens."
Qualls has scored 20 or more points four times with a high of 22 against North Texas, but he said the offense needs get through Portis.
"He has to touch the ball," Qualls said. "There shouldn't be times where he doesn't touch the ball. There are possessions I can be doing other things -- screening, rebounding, even attracting defenders, so BP can do work."
Portis and Qualls opened the second half of the Wisconsin-Milwaukee game by scoring Arkansas' first eight points -- four from each -- to help the Razorbacks pull away after the Panthers had closed to within eight points.
"I felt like me and Mike had to spark the offense," Portis said. "At certain moments, it's our time to put the ball in the hole."
For most of this season, it seems like that's all the time for Portis and Qualls.
Sports on 12/28/2014