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Arkansas 90, NW State 59 Grand slams : Hogs soar past Northwestern State in dunk-a-thon Published: Thursday, December 20, 2007 PRINT E-MAIL Sometimes Sonny Weems dominates a college game like he dominated West Memphis playgrounds. Wednesday night’s 90-59 Razorback rout over Northwestern State at Walton Arena was one of those games for the University of Arkansas senior small forward and former West Memphis High School star. Weems led the Razorbacks with 21 points. However it was the count rather than the amount of Weems ’ points that most impressed. He scored most of his 11 first-half points, including Arkansas’ first bucket knotting it 2-2, when they counted most. The Demons were down just 13-7 when Weems soared for a dunk off center Darian Townes’ alley-oop pass with 12: 12 left in the first half.
Weems stole off the press to soar and dunk again at 12: 09. NSU called timeout trying to stifle Weems ’ momentum. It didn’t help. Weems continued putting the Demons through hell. He scored again to make it 19-7 then assisted on baskets by big men Townes and Charles Thomas inside. Arkansas went up 23-9 on the Weems-to-Thomas bucket. Game over for the Demons as Arkansas soon led by 20 (37-17 ) after a Weems tip-in and a Townes dunk. “ It kind of did that feel like that, ” Weems said when asked if this game reminded him of his West Memphis days. “ We stayed aggressive to the basket and they looked for me to make plays. ” Arkansas concluded intermission up 45-25 and scored four straight deuces to insure a rout coming off a tough road loss last Saturday at Oklahoma. “ Sonny played really well, ” Townes said. “ Me and Sonny always communicate well and Michael Washington threw me some nice lob passes. It was nice not letting that loss have lingering effects. ” Arkansas advances to 9-2 head- ing into Saturday’s 2 p. m. game at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock against Applachian State. NSU’s Demons fell to 4-8. Hitting 5 of 8 from the field, Arkansas sophomore star guard Patrick Beverley snapped recent shooting woes while scoring 16. Townes (17 points ) and Thomas (11 ) scored double digits inside for the Razorbacks. NSU coach Mike McConathy said other than when his Demons played No. 1-ranked Illinois in 2000, the Razorbacks were the most physical team up front he’s seen in nine years coaching NSU. “ I haven’t seen such physical people that can just run, ” McConathy said. He included 7-foot center Steven Hill (4 blocked shots ), Townes, Thomas and Washington and noted Weems ’ highlight dunks. “ He’s just awfully good, ” McConathy said. “ That play he made for the dunk — my guy, 33 [Colby Bargemam ] is a big-time athlete and he jumped over him. He hit some big shots. He’s a great player. ” McConathy credited Arkansas coach John Pelphrey for getting the Razorbacks to “ dive for loose balls and do all the things my team is supposed to do. You can tell he’s got their attention. We’re good medicine for people. We play LSU after they lost to Villanova and they beat us and now Oklahoma beats Arkansas and Arkansas beats us. ” McConathy said Arkansas didn’t look the like same team that lost at Norman, Okla. Pelphrey remarked that he didn’t like Arkansas’ 19 turnovers, compared to 10 at OU, and that the Hogs fouled too much but overall he was pleased, particularly with the team’s unselfishness. “ We shared the sugar, ” Pelphrey said of Arkansas’ 24 assists. “ Our best game of the season sharing the basketball. ” Reserve point guard Gary Ervin had five assists. He also cited the Arkansas press that forced 24 NSU turnovers. Regarding Weems, Pelphrey said, the big difference was playing 26 minutes as opposed to much less recently because of foul trouble. “ Sonny kept himself out on the floor and made some shots, ” Pelphrey said. “ He attacked the basket a little more and you have a chance to get fouled. And some of that stuff you can’t coach. That’s just Sonny being Sonny. You know how special he is in transition. ” More Stories From: NATE ALLEN · Petrino dismisses Battle after 2nd arrest · SEC, Arkansas looking to shake off sub-par seasons · UA linebacker Khiry Battle arrested on suspicion of DUI · Diamond Hogs' tough schedule paid off in the end · Ex-UA coach Richardson speaks at All-Star clinic Yesterday's Most Popular 2. Exceptions rule Fayetteville High alums well represented at FCC match-play championship Today's Most E-mailed 1. LIKE IT IS : Football prognosticators ready to fire up fans 2. FIRECRACKER FAST 5K : Former Hog Forrest too fast for competition |
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