State sports briefs

— BASEBALL UCA picked to finish fifth

Central Arkansas was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference coaches and sports information directors preseason polls.

Sam Houston State was picked to win the league by both the coaches and SIDs, followed by Southeastern Louisiana, Oral Roberts and Stephen F. Austin.

Three UCA outfielders were named to the all-Southland preseason team. Senior Forrestt Allday and junior Jonathan Davis were first-team selections, while senior Ethan Harris received second-team honors.

FOOTBALL Magnolia hires coach

El Dorado defensive coordinator John Panter was named Magnolia High School’s new head coach Tuesday. Panter replaces Robert Day, who resigned following the 2012 season.

BASKETBALL Championship painting unveiled Saturday

A painting honoring former Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson and the Razorbacks’ 1994 national championship team will unveiled at halftime of Saturday’s Arkansas-Tennessee game at Walton Arena in Fayetteville, the school announced Wednesday.

The painting was commissioned by the NCAA and National Association of Basketball Coaches to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Tournament. One painting is being created for each of the 74 national champions with a 75th painting to be completed after this year’s championship game.

The Arkansas team painting by artist Opie Otterstad, which will be on display Saturday after halftime on the south concourse of Walton Arena, will be auctioned online starting on Feb. 2 at www.NCAA.com/ART. Limited edition reproductions also may be purchased. A portion of the proceeds for the auction will benefit the NABC Foundation, which supports Ticket to Reading Rewards, as well as the College Basketball Experience and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Mo.

TENNIS Arkansas beats UAB

Arkansas earned a 4-3 victory over Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday at the Dills Indoor Tennis Court in Fayetteville.

Mike Nott, Jovan Parlic, Victor Hoang and Santiago Munoz all won singles matches for the Razorbacks. Nott and Hoang earned Arkansas’ only doubles victory.

Sports, Pages 25 on 01/31/2013

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