When Arkansas desperately needed points Wednesday, the Razorbacks didn't turn to sophomore guard Patrick Beverley or senior forward Charles Thomas like they probably would have in the past. Rather, it was Sonny Weems who had the ball in his hands with the game still hanging in the balance.

Weems was the one who made Arkansas' final shot with 11 seconds remaining in the Razorbacks' 70-66 loss to South Carolina. And while those last two points didn't alter the outcome, they did perhaps signify that Weems has emerged as the team's go-to scorer.

" He's been taking his shots with a lot of confidence, " Beverley said Thursday, two days before Arkansas faces Georgia in Athens. " And I'm just happy he's been providing the offense he has. He's hot, so you've got to keep feeding him. "

Weems, a 6-foot-6 senior forward from West Memphis, produced a career-high 28 points against the Gamecocks and has thrived since the new year began.

Attacking the basket instead of relying on spotup jumpshots from the perimeter, Weems has found his groove. In his last four games, he has averaged 20. 8 points per game and during that stretch he supplanted both Darian Townes and Beverley as the team's most prolific scorer.

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" I've tried to find my shot more, " Weems said. " I think I am just being more aggressive. "

And finally, almost 18 months after he came to Arkansas, he is living up to the hype that followed him up Interstate 540 from UA-Fort Smith. It was there that Weems showed his raw potential while leading the Lions to the National Junior College Athletic Association championship.

But while Weems' athleticism was apparent from the moment he suited up for the Razorbacks, his desire to be an offensive weapon wasn't. Weems, who averaged 11. 8 points per game last year, Bud Walton Arena. seemed tentative and careless, Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said earlier this season.

In seven of the Razorbacks' first nine games, Weems had fewer than 10 field goal attempts and was prone to committing turnovers. But since Jan. 1, he has averaged more than 14 shots per game and has been more protective of the basketball. Something changed and Pelphrey said he has an idea why.

" He probably knows [time ] is running out, " Pelphrey said. " I think Sonny's effort and energy in practices translate to the game. I think Sonny is playing harder. I think he is trying to be more coachable than he has been. "

On Wednesday, Weems almost single-handedly erased an eight-point lead South Carolina had pieced together in the second half. He made two pull-up jumpshots and a layup - three consecutive baskets that cut Arkansas' deficit to one point.

" Sonny Weems was a handful for us, " Gamecocks coach Dave Odom said. " Seems like every time we come in here, one guy just goes off. I was worried about Sonny Weems because I think he's a terrific player. He really is. "

Seventeen games into the his final season at Arkansas, Weems is showing why. He is flashing a different attitude and the results are better - so much so that his teammates can't help but notice the improvement.

" Sonny has really been stroking the ball, " Arkansas senior center Steven Hill said. " He is hitting some big shots. We hope that streak continues and we continue to get that offense from him. "