Arkansas routs Georgia in rematch of SEC final

Fayetteville, Ark. — After watching his team win for the first time in a month, Arkansas coach John Pelphrey credited the Razorbacks’ offensive balance.

“The biggest thing, if you look at the stat sheet, we weren’t trying to get by on one or two guys,” Pelphrey said. “We had five guys in double figures. I gotta believe that when we do that, we’re going to have a chance.”

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AP

Freshman forward Trey Thompkins had 20 points to lead the Bulldogs.

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Actually, Arkansas had five players with at least 14 points in Sunday’s 89-67 win over Georgia. Rotnei Clarke led the Razorbacks with 19, including four 3-pointers.

The Razorbacks (14-13, 2-12 Southeastern Conference) won for the first time since late January. Starting point guard Courtney Fortson had 14 points and eight assists, and Michael Washington added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman forward Trey Thompkins had 20 points to lead the Bulldogs (11-18, 2-12).

Sunday’s game was a rematch of the 2008 SEC tournament championship game. Both teams have struggled in conference play this season. Even with the win, Arkansas remains in last place in the SEC West, and Georgia is last in the SEC East.

The loss left Georgia winless against the SEC’s Western Division for the first time since the league expanded in 1992.

“I thought we got outplayed, really,” Georgia interim coach Pete Herrmann said. “Arkansas got way too many extra possessions, which means they got offensive rebounds and forced turnovers. Those are just a result of extra effort on their part.

“I thought we played well to start, played a pretty even game, and then we committed a couple of turnovers, which Arkansas seemed to build momentum from. Then we just lost our poise under their pressure, and that was basically the story of the game.”

Former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson watched the game from the sidelines, and members of his 1994 national championship team were honored in a ceremony at halftime. At least one member of the 1994 team, Corey Beck, addressed Arkansas’ players before the game. Fortson said Beck “basically said to stop crying. You know, man up.”

The Razorbacks had help off the bench from junior guard Stefan Welsh, who has appeared in the starting lineup for Arkansas this season. Pelphrey said Welsh was held out of the starting lineup because of a coach’s decision.

Welsh played 28 minutes and had 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting. He made two 3-pointers — his first two since Feb. 11.

Arkansas outrebounded Georgia 39-27. The Razorbacks recorded 16 offensive rebounds to the Bulldogs’ 4. Georgia committed 21 turnovers.

Thompkins scored 11 early points, and Georgia led 18-15 when he left with his second foul. Arkansas then went on a 22-2 run. The Razorbacks took a 19-18 lead with 11:21 left in the half and never let it go. Thompkins picked up his third foul and left the game with 7:22 left in the first half.

The Razorbacks went into halftime with a 47-30 lead. The Bulldogs never threatened in the second half and trailed by as much as 25.