Powell Helps Razorbacks Hold Off Appalachian State in Overtime

FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas did not play its best basketball Friday night in Bud Walton Arena. However bad the play was, John Pelphrey won't be caught complaining about the outcome.

Arkansas survived a scare from Appalachian State, escaping with an 81-72 overtime victory. It was just two years ago the Mountaineers upset the Razorbacks in Little Rock.

"I hope we don't play [Appalachian State] for a long time," Pelphrey said. "The way it worked out it was good for us, to see how those guys respond and still be able to win."

After finishing the game tied at 68, Arkansas entered overtime against the Mountaineers and outscored them 13-4 to take the win.

Freshman forward Marshawn Powell scored five points in the overtime, and finished with 29 in the game. Julysses Nobles also hit four straight free throws to end the overtime, an effort that belied the team's awful 67.7 percent shooting from the line.

Appalachian State head coach Buzz Peterson said a lot of Powell's success came from the fact that they focused so much on Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke. A week ago Clarke scored 51 points and hit 13, three-pointers.

"We had to leave somebody open," Peterson said. "We left [Powell] open, and he hit the shots. He stepped up for them."

Arkansas got Powell to hit two threes and several long jumpers, but ultimately the goal is to let Clarke take those shots. Clarke finished with 16 points on 4 of 6 shooting.

"People just refuse to leave him," Pelphrey said. "We've got a lot of scenarios where we try to shake him free and get him more than six shots a game."

Despite taking an early 21-4 lead, Arkansas allowed the Mountaineers to pull closer and eventually take a 53-51 lead with 8:06 to go in the second half.