UPDATED: Arkansas 92, South Carolina 79 (FINAL)
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks thoroughly whipped the South Carolina Gamecocks to retain their hold on the top spot in the SEC West, but USC made the Hogs earn it by playing hack-a-Razorback defense for the final four minutes of the basketball game.
But the Hogs made the Gamecocks pay for the fouls by hitting 13 of 14 free throws to lock the game up.
You can check out tonight’s box score by clicking here.
Saturday the Razorbacks head to Auburn looking for a sweep of the Tigers in a 6 p.m. matchup that will be televised by Fox Sports Network.
UPDATED: Arkansas 77, South Carolina 64 (3:46 Second Half)
Since our last update, the Gamecocks have melted seven points off what was a 20-point lead. South Carolina is fouling quite a bit, which is slowing the clock. The Razorbacks will have to hit their free throws down the stretch to keep this game out of reach.
Junior Razorbacks center Delvon Johnson is leading all players with 10 rebounds, playing in foul-strapped Michael Washington’s stead.
UPDATED: Arkansas 73, South Carolina 59 (6:01 second half)
FAYETTEVILLE — Thus far, the Hogs have played one of their best games of the season, doing a fine job on defense and pushing the ball hard in transition. Marcus Britt is really coming into his own right now and Courtney Fortson has been fantastic tonight, except for his 6 turnovers.
South Carolina’s Devan Downey has 18 points but he had to take 22 to get them. He also 7 turnovers. Arkansas’ done a nice job on arguably the league’s best player. But there is still time for a comeback.
Michael Washington picked up his fourth foul with 8:39 left in the game on the second double foul call of the game. One Hog fan was so exasperated the double foul calls, he called for a double foul on every foul call the rest of the game. With 11:34 in the game Washington scored his 1,000th point as a Razorback. Thirty-two other Hogs have gone over 1,000 points in their career.
Courtney Fortson picked up his fourth foul with 8:29 left in the game. There is a lot of time left for a South Carolina comeback.
UPDATED: Arkansas 64, South Carolina 47 (11:02 second half)
Since our last update Courtney Fortson went on a tear for the Hogs. He made three fantastic assists — one a double-clutch, no-look feed to Delvon Johnson for a dunk — made a steal, scored a basket and hit a three-pointer to push the Razorbacks’ lead to 60-39 with 15:25 to play.
The Hogs held Devan Downey without a basket in the second half for nearly seven minutes when he popped a 3-pointer at the 13:44 mark to give him 11 points. That’s solid work by Marcus Britt, Stef Welsh and the rest of the UA defense.
UPDATED: Arkansas 51, South Carolina 39 (16:27 Second half)
After sitting most of the first half, 15:32 to be exact, Michael Washington made his presence known early. He slammed home a big dunk at the 18:38 mark of a a quick push and then assist from Courtney Fortson. But at the 17:32 mark, Washington picked up his third foul and promptly went to the bench in favor of Delvon Johnson.
At the 16:27 mark Marshawn Powell cashed in a thunderous dunk in traffic off an in-transition, alley-oop pass from Fortson. Fortson made a steal to start the fast break. It looked like a latter-day version of a Magic Johnson to James Worthy connection from back in the day.
UPDATED: Arkansas 40, South Carolina (HALF)
Strap yourselves in folks, this game looks like it’s going to be a good one down to the finish. Both squads have had their moments, but it’s anybody’s game.
Arkansas has done a great job on USC super-scorer Devan Downey, holding him to just 8 first half points, but the work is not over. While Downey shot just 3 of 11 from the field in the first half, he is too good a player to stay so quiet all night.
Junior Razorback guard Marcus Britt embarrassed Downey by picking his pocket at midcourt and driving for a layup with :10 left in the half. Downey was attempting to get the Gamecocks into the right play and run some clock. He turned his head to look back at his bench, and Britt’s quick hands took advantage.
Arkansas has gotten good production off the bench in the first half. That should pay off in the second half.
John Pelphrey was able to keep Michael Washington on the bench for the rest of the half after the senior sat down with two quick fouls at the the 15:32 mark. Powell played great, but the Hogs could use some solid work from Washington in the second half.
UPDATED: Arkansas 35, South Carolina 31 (1:34 First Half)
FAYETTEVILLE —Marshawn Powell is eating the Gamecocks up inside. He has 16 points. He received a beautiful no-look lob pass for Julysses Nobles with 5:53 to play that brought the crowd to its feet.
All season long, UA coach John Pelphrey has saluted the freshman from Newport News, Va.’s work ethic. It is certainly paying off. He has been the most consistent Razorback all season and he is getting better.
Frustration got the better of Courtney Fortson with 3:18 on the clock after battling hard for a loose ball with USC’s Evaldas Baniulus, he fouled seemingly to get the attention of the refs. Pelphrey quickly called a timeout and gave the refs a verbal dress down. Fortson looked mad enough to throw a punch, but controlled himself enough not to.
UPDATED: Arkansas 27, South Carolina 27 (7:46 first half)
Devan Downey is the Gamecocks bell cow, but 6-9 center Sam Muldrow is South Carolina’s man in the early going. He’s scored 10 on the Hogs before the the 10-minute mark of the first half and two have come on three-pointers.
Marshawn Powell has 10 for the Hogs and Rotnei Clarke is heating up for what could be a good night for him with 8. The two teams still seem to be feeling each other out, but the Gamecocks are scoring a bit easier on the halfcourt than the Hogs.
Pelphrey is keeping his guys fresh with multiple substitutions. Backups Stef, Welsh, Delvon Johnson, Glenn Bryant, Jemal Farmer and Julysses Nobles have all seen playing time.
After South Carolina pulled ahead 22-16, the Hogs went on an 11-3 run to pull ahead 27-26. USC coach quickly called a timeout.
UPDATED: South Carolina 9, Arkansas 8 (15:32 first half)
If you thought Courtney Fortson was small for a basketball player, have a look at South Carolina’s Devan Downey. He’s a tiny dude. He may not be as big as tall as his 5-9 listing. But, it makes what he accomplishes on the hardwood even more impressive.
In the early going, Marcus Britt, Stef Welsh and Courtney Fortson have all had at least a turn guarding Downey, but he only has one bucket.
Bad news for the Hogs, Michael Washington already has two fouls with 15:32 left in the game. He was called for a block while attempting to get a charge and was called for a push while going up for an offensive board. It’s been a tough season for the senior, who looked at going into the NBA Draft last summer.
IDOL ATTENTION (Pregame)
Gravette native Patrick Hall, a Season 5 top-24 finalist on “American Idol,” just sang his best singer song writer of our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”
No doubt the guy has a nice voice, and it was a solid rendition, but it was a little too sedate for the action that’s going to be on the court tonight.
This game should be a high-energy, up-tempo affair. Neither squad is going to want to apply the brakes. That’s the way I like my basketball, how about you?
The Hog Wild Band is now playing a rousing rendition of Aha’s “Take Me On,” which seems more appropriate.
BIG NIGHT FOR THE HOGS (pregame)
It’s a big night for the Razorbacks in Walton Arena. With a 13-12 record and a 6-4 SEC mark, the Razorbacks need every victory they can get as they stalk a NCAA Tournament berth.
Just a month ago, it seemed far fetched to even consider a trip to the Big Dance for the Hogs, and in truth, the Razorbacks need to do some work just to get on the NCAA Selection Committee’s radar. But that goal is still out there, and without doubt, it is worth playing for.
If the Hogs are ever to regain the national respectability that has eroded from the program during the last decade, the first step is becoming a program that perennially takes part in March Madness. And when I say March Madness, I don’t include the NIT. It would be a decent consolation prize this season, but nothing to shout about. No coach ever plays the NIT card when he’s out recruiting.
It is going to be difficult for the Razorbacks to make the Field of 65. I personally believe they need to win at least five of their last six conference games and then two more in the SEC Tournament at Nashville.
That needs to start tonight against a very good Gamecocks club.
It is going to be interesting to see just how the Hogs attempt to contain USC’s Devan Downey. The tiny guard has been electrifying in SEC play this year, averaging better than 28 points per game in SEC play. If Downey keeps up that average, he’ll eclipse Shaquille O’Neal’s 1991 SEC scoring average of 27.8 ppg., which has stood since the first season the SEC expanded to 12 teams.
If the Hogs remain in man defense, will John Pelphrey assign Courtney Fortson the job of guarding Downey or will he assign it to the trio Marcus Britt, Stef Welsh and Jemal Farmer?
If Fortson gets the call, he’ll have to play extremely smart to stay out of foul trouble.
It’s less than 20 minutes to tipoff. Keep checking in at The Trough for more on tonight’s live game blog.
