ANTHONY REYES Northwest Arkansas Times Arkansas forward Michael Washington (00 ) puts a shot up over Southeastern Louisiana defenders during the first half Friday in Bud Walton Arena. Washington scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Hogs ’ 91-87 victory.

No doubt John Pelphrey wishes his Razorbacks were ready to make him a liar.

They weren’t.

As Pelphrey predicted, Southeast Louisiana’s Lions indeed were a “ very, very difficult ” opener for Arkansas.

Throw in a couple of more “ verys” for accuracy, yet still not so difficult that Arkansas couldn’t somehow pull it out. The Razorbacks overcame a 74-66 deficit with 3: 15 left in regulation, took it to 77-77 overtime and won the season-opener for both teams, 91-87 Friday night at Walton Arena.

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Junior forward Michael Washington’s career night of 30 points and 14 rebounds, freshman point guard Courtney Fortson’s 18-points-7-assists debut, and freshman shooting guard Rotnei Clarke’s 17 points were most instrumental in the Hogs’ opening with a W when all seemed nearly lost.

Fortson’s drive to the hole with 8. 7 seconds left to achieve OT and the final free throw with 1. 4 left put it out of reach of SLU 3-point gunner Kevyn Green.

Clarke’s fifth and final trey as streaking teammate Montrell McDonald found him in the corner with 24 seconds left in regulation pulled Arkansas to down 76-75.

SLU’s Brian Fortenberry only made half of a one-and-one, and Fortson, with the Lions loathe that he may dish an assist, drove for the tie.

When Washington hit two free throws with 2: 27 left in OT, it marked Arkansas’ first lead since 5: 45 of the first half.

Washington’s dunk put the Hogs irrevocably, it proved, ahead 85-81 with 1: 54 left in overtime.

However, SLU, behind 3-point shooter Kevyn Green’s 21 points and Warrell Span’s 20 points, kept the Lions in it down to the crowd’s last roar.

“ I can’t say it was scripted the way I would want it to go, but what I am pleased with is the outcome of the game and our heart, ” Pelphrey said. “ I didn’t know what kind of heart we would have, but that’s what won it for us. Our guys just kept playing through it. I knew watching film of these guys [SLU ] what we were in for. My worst concerns came true. They are an experienced group and very confident. ”

The visitors’ confidence no doubt increased with the Hogs making it hard for themselves by hitting only 8 of 17 first-half free throws.

“ Our first-half free throw shooting was awful, ” Pelphrey said. “ And we had a tough time finding a defensive answer for those guys. But Michael Washington, I can’t say enough about his performance — 30 points, 14 rebounds, play 41 of 45 minutes, bounce back from his poor free throw shooting to hit four in a row down the stretch. That was an unbelievable performance. ”

Washington was too drained and cramped to meet media postgame.

Though fouling out, redshir t freshman forward Michael Sanchez of Springdale Har-Ber contributed 12 boards and a blocked shot for Arkansas.

Sophomore reserve guard Marcus Britt of Forrest City made two key steals and scored 5 points in 17 minutes.

Fortson overcame six turnovers with big plays both halves and in OT.

“ I thought it was a great test for us, ” Fortson said. “ We will get better. And we didn’t panic. Every time we came to the sideline, Coach Pelphrey said we are going to win this game. ”

What happened on the bucket to send it to OT ?

“ Coach told me to drive it and if they gave help, kick it, ” Fortson said. “ Michael Washington was great tonight. ”

Clarke credited McDonald for his big trey down the regulation stretch.

“ Just a fast-break instinct thing, ” Clarke said. “ Coach Pelphrey tells me to run to the corner and Montrell did a great job of finding me and I was able to knock it down.

“ It’s a relief to open this game with a win. Now we can work on getting better. ”

Arkansas led the first half as much as five, trailed by as much as five and closed intermission down, 38-36.

Initially, it appeared Fortson might foul out the entire Lions’ den as they whacked him four times early as he penetrated.

However, neither he nor Washington failed to capitalize on repeated trips to the line.

Fortson only hit 2 of 5 and Washington just 3 of 8 firsthalf freebies.

Despite 17 first-half free throw attempts to Southeast’s 9, the Hogs only outscored the Lions, 8-6 on first-half free throws.

It appeared those first-half missed freebies might doom the Hogs to a season-opening loss all the way down to Stefan Welsh sinking successive free throws at: 06 of OT and the Hogs fouling Green before he could launch a try for a game-tying trey.

Green missed his first free throw at: 04 of OT then missed the second on purpose before Fortson was fouled corralling the miss.