Second half all positive for Weems
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey wasn’t sure how many points Sonny Weems scored against College of Charleston.
But there was no questioning Weems’ impact on the Razorbacks in the second half of their 75-49 victory on Thursday night in the Puerto Rico Tipoff Tournament.
“I thought Sonny was phenomenal in the second half,” Pelphrey said. “I thought he played as hard as he’s played all year, and I thought he played the game the right way,”
Pelphrey said Weems was the best player on the court because of his effort and unselfish play in making the extra pass to teammates.
Weems, a senior from West Memphis, finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 21 minutes. He was limited to five minutes in the first half because of two fouls and his only other stat in that span was one turnover.
College of Charleston pulled within 33-29 of Arkansas a minute into the second half, but Weems got two baskets and two assists within a two-minute span to help the Razorbacks go on a 13-0 run.
“Sonny really gave us an energy boost in the second half,” Arkansas sophomore guard Patrick Beverley said.
Outrebounded College of Charleston Coach Bobby Cremins said rebounding was a point of emphasis against Arkansas after the Cougars were outrebounded 53-43 in their season-opening 98-91 overtime loss at North Carolina-Wilmington. But the Cougars were outrebounded 53-27 by Arkansas. “We got beat up pretty good,” Cremins said. “But that’s a tough team to rebound against.” Vincent Hunter, a 6-10 senior, led the Razorbacks with 10 rebounds off the bench.
Tough start College of Charleston had more field-goal attempts than No. 18 Arkansas — 63 to 60 — but shot 28. 6 percent from the field, missing its first 10 shots. Even the Cougars’ first official basketball didn’t go through the goal. Freshman guard Andrew Goudelock was credited with the team’s first field goal on a goaltending call against Arkansas center Steven Hill. “We looked nervous at the beginning,” Cougars Coach Bobby Cremins said. “Any time you play a top 20 team, it’s got to be a little nerve-racking for these guys.” Hill said the Cougars got “a lot of good looks” that didn’t go in. “To a certain extent, they were just missing shots,” Hill said. College of Charleston, hesitant to go inside too often against the bigger Razorbacks, hit 5 of 30 three-point attempts.
This and that Arkansas freshman guard Levan Patsatsia dressed for the game, but didn’t play because of an ankle injury.... The Razorbacks will play Providence for the third time in today’s second round. The teams are 1-1, with the Razorbacks winning 118-79 at Fayetteville during the 1998-1999 season and the Friars winning 87-81 at Providence the next year.... The announced attendance for Thursday’s four games was a combined 1, 567.
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