ARKANSAS 76, AUBURN 70 : Razorbacks win first SEC road opener since 2002

Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/61087/

The Arkansas Razorbacks won their first Southeastern Conference road opener since 2002 Thursday with a 76-70 victory over the Auburn Tigers at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum in Auburn, Ala.

Patrick Beverley and Sonny Weems each scored 17 points and Charles Thomas added 14 as the Hogs fought back from two eight-point, firsthalf deficits to win the game.

The victory advances the Razorbacks to 12-3 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play, while Jeff Lebo’s Tigers fell to 9-4 and 0-1.

“ We thought we had an opportunity to come in here and get a win and get off to a good start, ” first-year Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “ We did that, but whenever you win one on the road, you feel like you are stealing something. ”

The Razorbacks had a huge size advantage, but Auburn’s quickness troubled the Razorbacks, who had difficulty stopping the Tigers ’ penetration.

Auburn took control of the game in the first half with hot shooting, nailing 5 of their first 7 three-point shots, but the Razorbacks tightened up their defense and Auburn hit only 4 of their next 28 treys.

The Hogs could have made the game easier for themselves by converting from the free-throw line, but Arkansas managed to just make just 7 of 17 charity tosses, including just 1 of its last 9.

But Michael Washington hit the big free throw for the Razorbacks with: 28 to play to give Arkansas a 74-70 lead. The 6-10 sophomore, who scored 7 points, also snared the biggest of his 7 rebounds at the other end with: 15 to play, limiting the Tigers to a single shot.

Beverley, who scored the game’s final basket on a layup, had his second fine game in a row. Along with his 17 points, Beverley grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds and made 3 steals and 2 assists.

Weems dished out 7 assists to go along with his 7-of-13 night shooting from the field. Gary Ervin had 5 assists, but three turnovers.

The Razorbacks are back in action on Sunday when they play host to the Alabama Crimson Tide at 3: 05 p. m. Sunday at Bud Walton Arena.

Alabama is 11-5 on the season and 0-1 in SEC play after falling, 90-83, to Florida last Tuesday night.