LITTLE ROCK — If there is a bright side to be found in Arkansas losing 70-47 to Baylor on Wednesday, it’s that the Razorbacks spent a half looking like a team that had won five consecutive games.
But the 11,162 fans at North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena saw Arkansas take a massive step backward in the second half, raising even more questions as the Razorbacks fell to 7-6 with two games remaining before SEC play begins.
Baylor (10-1) outscored Arkansas 36-16 in the second half, erasing what was a strong first half against an up-and-coming Big 12 team. Not only did the Bears flex their defensive muscle with 12 blocks - including right by forward Ekpe Udoh - but they held Rotnei Clarke, Arkansas’ leading scorer, without a point in the second half.
“We weren’t as effective executing offensively,” said Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey, who is 1-2 in games played in North Little Rock. “The opportunity to get the ball in the high post was there. We did that in the second half. We just didn’t score and didn’t get fouled.”
Clarke, who scored 13 points in the first half, was a non-factor in the second half, but his play in the first half had both the Razorbacks and a raucous central Arkansas crowd thinking that a sixth consecutive victory was a possibility.
Baylor led 19-11 after a layup by Lace Darius Dunn when Clarke brought Arkansas back. Clarke hit two three-pointers on the way to scoring eight points in a row, tying the game with 10:25 left in the half.
Clarke’s flurry woke up the fans, who saw the Razorbacks fall behind early thanks to Dunn, a 6-4 junior guard. Dunn scored nine of the Bears’ first 11 points and ended with a game-high 19 points.
Baylor rebuilt its lead to nine points, but Arkansas closed to 34-31 at halftime on Stefan Welsh’s layup.
Then things derailed.
Baylor opened the second half with Anthony Jones feeding 7-0 center Josh Lomers fora layup. A block by Epke led to another Dunn three-pointer, and following an Arkansas timeout, Lomers again got a feed from Jones and put the Bears up 41-31.
“At halftime, we just told our team to pick up the intensity to match their intensity,” Baylor Coach Scott Drew said. “I think we did that, especially defensively.”
Arkansas struggled to find an alternative scoring threat with Baylor locked down on Clarke. The Razorbacks’ lonebright spot was freshman forward Marshawn Powell, who scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half.
Yet Arkansas could never find a long-range threat, be it Clarke or anyone else. And with the game getting more out of hand, that took on greater importance.
“I felt like my teammates did a good job of finding me when I did have open looks,” Clarke said. “In the second half, credit to Baylor. They found me in transition situations where I usually get some open looks. They were all communicating and talking on where I was at.”
Wednesday won’t be the last night that Clarke finds himself blanketed. And given that point guard Courtney Fortson remains on indefinite suspension while forwards Michael Washington and Michael Sanchez battle injuries, finding a second scoring option is a must.
“In the other locker room, they don’t want Rotnei shooting the ball,” Pelphrey said. “It’s an opportunity for other guys to step up.”
Sports, Pages 15 on 12/31/2009