In the lane

Tribute touches ex-Hog

University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearthart, left, and former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson, center, present former player Corliss Williamson with a framed replica of his jersey banner on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Corliss Williamson, one of Arkansas' all-time greats, came home to see his banner unveiled Wednesday at Walton Arena.

Williamson, a Russellville native, helped lead Arkansas to the 1994 NCAA national championship as a sophomore and back to the NCAA championship game the following season. He ranks eighth in scoring at Arkansas with 1,728 points.

"To have an opportunity to stand out there at center court again and just to hear that ovation and bring back the memories of when I played out there, it's going to be a feeling that hopefully I can hold my composure with," Williamson said prior to the game.

Williamson was clearly touched by emotion during the halftime ceremony.

With his wife Michelle by his side and many family members and former teammates in attendance, Williamson accepted a framed replica of his banner from Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart and former coach Nolan Richardson.

"Wow, love you too," Williamson told the crowd, his voice cracking and fighting back tears.

Williamson said he'd like for fans to think of his teammates, the Arkansas coaching staff and the Razorbacks' 1994 national championship when they look at his banner.

"I love being back here in Walton Arena," Williamson said in wrapping up his comments. "To God be the glory."

Qualls soars

Arkansas' Michael Qualls hasn't been on ESPN's SportsCenter in a while, but he probably found his way to the nightly highlight show Wednesday.

Qualls took an outlet pass from Manny Watkins in the second half, dribbled down the left side and then launched one step inside of the free-throw line for a one-handed dunk over Missouri's Keith Shamburger that drew a roar of approval from the fans.

Stay humble

Arkansas (21-5, 10-3 SEC) has won five consecutive games and eight of its past nine, moving ever closer to its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008, but the Razorbacks are trying to stay in the moment.

"We have a long way to go," forward Bobby Portis said. "Even with our record being what it is, Coach [Mike Anderson] preaches every day about staying humble and hungry."

Lots of tips

Arkansas had 61 deflections but only nine steals.

Guard Michael Qualls said the 61 tipped balls marked a season high.

Qualls said a key was making Missouri's Jonathan Williams bring the ball up the court. Williams had eight of the Tigers' 20 turnovers.

"We were active," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "One sequence we touched it four times even though we didn't come up with it, but that's disruption. It's not necessarily all about the steal."

Long spell

Missouri failed to score for a span of exactly seven minutes in the first half, allowing Arkansas to race out to a 31-19 lead by scoring 15 consecutive points.

Missouri led 19-16 on Tramaine Isabell's three-pointer at the 10:25 mark and did not score again until Jakeenan Gant's jumper at 3:25.

The Tigers committed eight turnovers during the drought and missed five shots, two of them blocked by Arkansas' Bobby Portis and Alandise Harris.

Swept

Arkansas swept two games from Missouri for the first time since the Tigers joined the SEC for the 2012-13 season and avenged a sweep at the hands of the Tigers last year.

The Razorbacks took a 22-21 lead in the all-time series, including a 12-9 advantage at home.

Three for 3

Arkansas' Michael Qualls, Alandise Harris and Ky Madden connected on three-point shots in the opening three minutes of the second half. The 3 three-pointers helped Arkansas turn an eight-point halftime lead into a 50-32 advantage at the 17:41 mark of the second half.

For $5,000

University of Arkansas student Brendan Oman made money at Walton Arena in the first half.

The 21-year-old from Little Rock made a layup and a free throw at the start of a mid-game promotion, giving him a chance to earn $5,000 by making a half-court shot.

Oman dribbled confidently to mid-court and without hesitation launched a high-arcing shot that went straight through the net.

Line slip

Arkansas had a second consecutive poor performance from the free-throw line after going 6 of 10 in its 71-70 victory at Ole Miss last week. The Razorbacks made both ends of only 7 of 16 two-shot possibilities and finished 20 of 31 (64.5 percent) on the night.

Sports on 02/19/2015