Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

1/13/2011 at 7:49am

Arkansas trimmed an 18-point second-half deficit to two points late but couldn't overtake LSU, falling 56-53 in Baton Rouge, La., on Wednesday night. Jeff Peterson's 21-foot jump shot with four seconds left didn't draw iron, and Arkansas dropped to 1-1 in Southeastern Conference play. LSU is 2-0.

For The Associated Press game story, click here.

Here's the "Full-Court Press" breakdown of the game:

Why Arkansas Lost
The Razorbacks shot a horrendous 17 percent from the field in the first half and let LSU have its way on the boards, with the Tigers winning the rebounds 30-14 in the first 20 minutes to lead on the scoreboard 31-17. Arkansas' deficit grew to 18 points to start the second half before the Hogs suddenly found their aggressiveness on the defensive end and began finding the big men inside for some offense. Had the Hogs never attempted a 3-point shot in the late going, they would have had a better chance of pulling the game out, as the defensive pressure and the scoring inside brought them back to within two, 49-47, with 2:20 to play. Arkansas didn't make a 3-pointer in the last five minutes and Rotnei Clarke made just one all night. Needing a 3 to tie in the last 10 seconds, the Hogs found Clarke tightly guarded on the right wing, so Jeff Peterson put up an off-balanced effort from long range out front that missed everything.

Sickening
It's understandable if Arkansas fans were wretching watching the play of the Hogs in the first half. In the second half, it was forward Marshawn Powell who, in between moments where he dominated offensively inside, was excusing himself from the game because he had taken ill. Powell was still out on the court in the final seconds and grabbed the last defensive rebound after a Tigers' free-throw miss to give the Hogs a last chance to tie. Powell finished with 15 points, 13 coming in the second half, and six rebounds. Center Delvon Johnson added 10 points for the Hogs.

Defensive-minded?
Is it the LSU defense that's so good in the first half, or could it be the competition? On Saturday, Auburn hit just 2 of 26 shots in the first half and trailed LSU AT Auburn, Ala., 32-6. LSU would eventually lead that game by 31 points and hold on to win 62-55. On Wednesday night, Arkansas was a meager 5 of 27 from the field in the first half for 17 points. Arkansas didn't connect on its first field goal until after missing its first nine shots.

Speaking Out: John Pelphrey
"We couldn't make it back. We did fight very hard both halves, just struggled scoring the ball. The second half we were able to convert some plays around the basket. But from the perimeter we struggled all night long. We had opportunities all the way down to the end to convert some perimeter shots and our guards really struggled making any perimeter shots tonight."

"In the first half our guards were able to get inside the [LSU zone] defense and we had some shots in around 15 feet and didn't convert those either. You look at our shooting in the backcourt, it's going to be very, very difficult no matter what kind of defense is going on, where you're playing or who your playing against, to be able compete. We only gave up 56 points, which is terrific, and the team we were playing shot 7 percent from the 3-point line and 39 percent from the field. Offensively we've got to step up and make some shots, make some plays, and we did not do it tonight."

"Give LSU the credit. The [LSU] zone was able to cover up the [Arkansas] bigs in the first half. We did a poor job in the first half, our guards did not see those plays that were open. They were open in the first half. Second half, our guards read that much better."

About the second half comeback: "They [big men Marshawn Powell and Delvon Johnson] did a good job of making themselves available and finishing some plays around the basket. We did a much better job of operating and getting them the ball. Unfortunately we did it in one half and not both."

Up Next
Arkansas (11-4, 1-1) tries to get its second win in SEC play at home Saturday against Alabama. Then the Hogs embark on a two-game road trip in the league.

Tagged: Southeastern Conference, John Pelphrey, Marshawn Powell, Delvon johnson, Jeff Peterson, Rotnei Clarke, LSU Tigers