Hot-shooting Appalachian shocks Arkansas

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - Even in its home state, Arkansas can't win on the road.

Freshman Donald Sims scored 24 points off the bench Saturday including 10 in a row in the first half as Appalachian State defeated Arkansas 74-67 on a neutral court ringed with red-clad Razorbacks fans.

``I think it's the biggest win in the nation today,'' Appalachian State coach Houston Fancher said. ``Arkansas gave us reason to fold tonight. We were able to bounce back from bad plays. Our mistakes didn't multiply.''

The Mountaineers (5-5) from the Southern Conference shot 67 percent from the floor and were 12-of-12 at the line. Arkansas (9-3), a Southeastern Conference team, fell once again in a game away from Bud Walton Arena on its Fayetteville campus.

Over the past five years, Arkansas is 9-38 on its opponents' courts. Saturday's game was on a neutral court but most of the 10,835 present were calling the Hogs.

``This was a home game for us,'' Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. ``We just couldn't get it done offensively. They were dictating what was going on through their offense. They ran clock on us. They were able to get two big bodies up front.''

Sims hit six free throws in the final 4:14 to close the game out. His 3-pointer with 1:11 left coming just as the shot clock ran out pushed the lead to 70-65 and deflated an Arkansas rally. The Razorbacks had trailed 47-33 early in the second half but had cut the lead with defensive pressure that forced 13 Mountaineer turnovers in the second half.

Arkansas, however, shot only 42 percent from the field and missed 11 of its 25 free throws.

``I told them ... our best defense today was going to be a patient offense,'' Fancher said. ``Try to keep them off balance as much as we can.''

The Mountaineers had fallen behind by eight, 15-7, early but Sims' scored 10 points in a row to lift Appalachian State to a 37-31 lead. A 3-pointer from the left wing made it 30-28 with 5:23 left in the first half and a minute later another 3 made it 33-28.

After Donte Minter blocked a Marcus Britt jumper, Sims picked up the loose ball and ended a drive with a layup, then Sims added another jumper.

Over the last eight minutes of the first half, Appalachian State made eight of nine shots. For the first 20 minutes, the Mountaineers made 61 percent of their shots, compared to the Razorbacks' 46 percent. Appalachian State was 5-of-5 to open the second half while Arkansas went the first 4.5 minutes of the period without a field goal.

``I think winning this game will get us more people at our own gym,'' Sims said. The Mountaineers drew just 1,129 for a game last Monday against Virginia-Wise.

``It was a big step in the right direction,'' Minter said. ``It was about staying calm. You knew the crowd was going to get on you.''

After falling behind by 14 early in the second half, Arkansas' Charles Thomas led an 8-0 run as the Razorbacks crawled back into the game.

The Mountaineers' enjoyment of the victory will be short-lived, Fancher said.

``All it does is set a standard for us,'' Fancher said. ``It's not about Arkansas or the Pig fans. It's all about what it means to us.''