WILLIAM MOORE Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Arkansas ’ Brandon Moore passes around Dillard’s Kenyon Harper during the Hogs ’ 108-80 win Thursday in Bud Walton Arena.

With a liberal assist from debuting freshman point guard Courtney Fortson, Arkansas easily defeated Dillard, 108-80 Thursday night at Walton Arena in the Razorbacks’ second and final exhibition game.

On undisclosed disciplinary suspension for the Razorbacks’ 103-58 rout of Campbellsville, also a NAIA small college as is Dillard, Fortson debuted Thursday night, dealing 10 assists and scoring 11 points against just 2 turnovers.

Freshman shooting guard Rotnei Clarke, 5 of 9 treys, scored a game-high 20 points.

Junior forward Michael Washington shook off a foulplagued first half to finish with 19 points, and freshman swingman Jason Henry of West Memphis tallied 14 including an impressive 10 in the first half.

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Arkansas coach John Pelphrey praised all the above but found plenty of fault with too many fouls (22 by Arkansas and 27 by Dillard in a whistle-stop game ) and poor defense (Dillard shot 52 percent in the first half ).

Worst of all, Pelphrey said the Razorbacks “ didn’t play with the passion, ” they displayed in the exhibition opener.

“ We can play harder than that, ” Pelphrey said.

Pelphrey did credit Dillard with creating some of Arkansas’ defensive problems as guards disguised as forwards Michael Bridges and David Manning stepped out and hit a combined 5 of 12 treys while scoring 14 points each as did Kenyon Harper off the Dillard bench.

“ Give Dillard credit, ” Pelphrey said. “ They hit some shots. From our guys’ side of it, I wasn’t overly impressed. I am concerned about our defense. ”

On the plus side, Pelphrey said, “ Courtney obviously made some good plays, a 10-2 assist-turnover ratio is good in any game. Mike Washington got established in the second half. Rotnei hit shots, and Jason Henry is a very talented offensive player.

“ But we are a long, long way from competing for a win in the regular season. Our rebounding is suspect and our enthusiasm and passion wasn’t very high. ”

All the whistle stops and the game so well in hand by half probably didn’t help the enthusiasm any.

Still, Fortson was a bright spot unable to show in the first game, and Henry, not getting academically cleared until after classes began in August, obviously is catching up in his conditioning.

“ It was the second week of school before I got cleared, ” Henry said. “ My first two weeks were hell getting in condition but I feel like I am in the best shape of my life now. I felt comfortable with every shot tonight. ”

Especially with Fortson setting him up.

“ He found me for two dunks, ” Henry said. “ And with him here, I don’t have to bring the ball up. ”

Fortson said his first game “ went well” but “ I can rebound better. It was great finally to get on the floor. ”

And great to have him, Clarke said, especially with Dillard flocking to Fortson and leaving the sharpshooting Clarke alone to sink 3-balls from the corner pocket.

“ I loved being left in the corner like that, ” Clarke said. “ But Courtney is going to attract so many people. It’s either you got to stay on me and he’ll open the lane or help off on him and I’ll be open. It’s a really good feeling playing with him, especially standing wide open in the corner. ”

Other than the game’s first point on a free throw, Dillard never led other than 1-0.

Arkansas assumed quick double-digit leads of 17-7 and 23-13 but Dillard whittled it to as low as 25-21 before a Fortson to Michael Washington dunk, then Clarke eschewing shooting a 3 to pass it for Stefan Welsh’s 3-pointer, put Arkansas on course for a 61-42 first half that included 15 Dillard turnovers.

Freshman Fortson more than lived up to his playmaker billing with 9 assists, several for dunks, versus a lone turnover in 16 first-half minutes.

Clarke, with four 3-pointers from the corner plus 2 for 2 free throws, scored 14 first-half points.

West Memphis’ Henry, scoring from near and far and from the line, tallied a versatile 10 first-half points in just 6 minutes.

One stat that would have been alarming in a close game, Arkansas ’ two big Mikes — 6-9 Mike Washington and 6-9 Michael Sanchez — both picked up three firsthalf fouls.

That didn’t faze Washington in the second half as he scored 13 of his 19 points.

Arkansas opens its season Nov. 21 against Southeastern Louisiana at Walton Arena.