NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Whether it’s football or basketball, Appalachian State knows how to pull off an upset.

Though not as monumental as the Mountaineers’ football upset of Michigan in September, Appalachian State executed its offense and defense nearly flawlessly to upend the Arkansas Razorbacks 74-67 in front of a partisan crowd of 10, 835 at Alltel Arena.

ASU shot 67 percent from the field — missing just 3 shots in the second half — and made all 12 free throws to drop the Hogs to 9-3 on the season and to even its record at 5-5.

“ We have to give it up to Appalachian State, ” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “ They came in here and did exactly what they needed to do to beat us. Other than turnovers, they were nearly flawless. They executed perfectly. ” The freshman duo of guard Donald Sims (24 points ) and center Donte Minter (20 points ) burned the Razorbacks outside and in for 44 of the

ADVERTISEMENT

Mountaineers’ points.

After Arkansas center Darian Townes cut the Mountaineer’s lead to 67-65 with four free throw on consecutive trips down the floor, ASU milked 17 seconds off the clock before Minter assisted to Sims for a deep 3-pointer with 1: 17 to play that sealed the game for the Mountaineers.

“ They had six 3-pointers which isn’t a lot, but that last one really killed us, ” Pelphrey said. “ Again you have to hand it to them. ”

Mountaineer coach Houston Fancher was appropriately proud of his squad.

“ Can you believe that, ” Fancher said. “ Our kids played great, particularly our freshmen, against a very talented basketball team. They never backed away. We got a lead and we knew they would make a run, but we made the plays it took to hold them off. ”

Conversely, the Razorbacks had difficulty finding the basket, shooting 42 percent from the field and missing 11 of 25 charity tosses.

“ It was a struggle for us all day, ” Pelphrey said. “ It wasn’t that we weren’t taking the right shots by the right people. It was just one of those days. We couldn’t find the hole. ”

Charles Thomas led the Hogs with 15 points and 6 rebounds, but he hit only 3 of 9 free throws. Townes finished with 14 points, while Sonny Weems and Gary Ervin each added 11. Patrick Beverley, who was strapped with early foul trouble, scored 5, which is 8 points below his average.

With great support from the Central Arkansas crowd, the Razorbacks seemed to have a handle on the Mountaineers early by taking a 15-7 first-half lead, but Appalachian State went to work on the boards and hit several big 3-pointers to tie the Hogs at 24. Then the Mountaineers went on to build a 41-33 halftime lead.

The Mountaineers shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and outrebounded the Hogs 17-12. ASU scored the first six points of the second half to expand their lead to 14.

Thomas, who gave up his starting spot to fellow senior Vincent Hunter, who hails from Little Rock, went to work, scoring six quick points.

Thomas made one of two free throws and then tipped in a Weems miss.

After a Mountaineer turnover, Ervin fed Thomas, who spun inside with a power move to draw a conventional 3-point play.

Beverley then made a steal in transition and set up Marcus Britt for a layup. The 8-point, 1-minute run cut the ASU lead to 47-41.

With 13: 47 to play, Beverley hit his first basket of the game, a 3-pointer to pull the Hogs to within 49-44.

But, the Mountaineers would not wilt, maintaining a 3- to 7-point lead, by hitting seven of their first eight shots in the second half.

The Hogs would make it interesting, though.

Ervin made a circus shot in the paint and drew a foul, but he missed the free throw. However, Beverley tracked down the rebound and zipped a pass back to Ervin in the corner, who canned a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 59-55.

Beverley nabbed another steal and made a layup, trimming the ASU lead to 61-57, but he picked up his fourth foul with 4: 14 to play.

Two Ervin free throws cut the lead to 4 at 4: 07 and a Mountaineer turnover gave the Hogs the ball and allowed the Razorbacks to run a set play that had Ervin serve up an alleyoop pass that Weems slammed home to cut the ASU lead to 63-61 with 3: 57 to lead.

But Sims canned two free throws and Minter scored inside to up ASU’s lead to 67-61.

Townes trimmed the lead to 67-63 at the free-throw line and Marcus Britt stole the inbounds pass. Two more Townes free throws cut ASU’s lead to 67-65 with 1: 44 to play.

But as he and Minter had done all day, Sims stroked his final 3-point basket to hold the Hogs at bay.

Pelphrey had threatened to keep the Razorbacks in Fayetteville for Christmas if they lost either of their final two games before the holiday, but the first-year coach proved he’s no Grinch by allowing the team off until Dec. 26.

“ This is a painful, painful loss, but these guys need to go home and be with their families for a few days and enjoy their Christmas traditions, ” Pelphrey said. “ We’re going to come back on the 26 th and really get with it like we never have before. ”

The Razorbacks are not back in action until Dec. 29 when they host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at 2 p. m. in Bud Walton Arena. The game will be televised by ARSN. The Warhawks are 6-6 going after beating Texas-Tyler, 95-51, on Saturday.