In the lane

Anderson suspends 2 players

BATON ROUGE - Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson announced before Saturday’s game at LSU that forwards Michael Qualls and Alandise Harris were suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team,and he didn’t provide specifics after the Tigers beat the Razorbacks 88-74 at Maravich Assembly Center.

“You’ve got the statement,” Anderson said.

“It’s indefinite.”

Anderson declined to say if he has any timetable for Qualls’ and Harris’ possible return.

“It was a decision that I had to make, and if I had to, I’d do it again,” Anderson said of the suspensions. “I’m all about this team - this team at this point and as we move on throughout this season.

“It’s hard, but in the long run I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Anderson said in his pregame statement that he’s trying to build “the ultimate team and that everyone has to be on board to make that happen.” He said the players are held to a high standard and that all are accountable for their actions.

Qualls has struggled to hit shots in SEC play, but he scored 18 in an 87-85 overtime victory against Kentucky - including the game-winning outback dunk - and scored 16 against Missouri on Tuesday night.

He is third on the team in scoring at 11.7 points but is averaging 7.9 in SEC games.

Harris is averaging 9.1 points but 6.4 in SEC games, with a high of 12 against Kentucky.

“I have no control over that,” freshman forward Bobby Portis, who had 15 points, said when asked about the loss of Qualls and Harris.

“I was just trying to go out and do my part and play as hard as I could.”Big half for Kikko

Arkansas senior guard Kikko Haydar, who came into the game averaging 3.6 points, had a career-high 15 points, all in the second half.

Haydar, whose previous high was 13 points against Michigan last season, made 4 of 7 shots - including 3 of 6three-pointers - and 4 of 4 free throws.

“My teammates found me,” he said. “One of my jobs is to knock down open shots.”

Free throw edge

In the previous four SEC games Arkansas’ opponents attempted 49 more free throws (135 to 86), but the Razorbacks hit 25 of 27 on Saturday compared to 11 of 16 by LSU.

“Building blocks for this basketball team in the face of adversity,” Coach Mike Anderson said of attacking offensively to get to the freethrow line. “To me, that’s what you look at, and all it’s going to do is make us a whole lot better.”Tigers tough

LSU improved to 8-3 in its past 11 games against Arkansas, including four consecutive victories.

Arkansas last beat the Tigers 69-60 in 2009 at Walton Arena. The Razorbacks’ last victory at LSU was in 2008 when they won 68-52.

Tip-in

Arkansas senior guard Rickey Scott played nine minutes off the bench after not playing the previous two games against Auburn and Missouri.

Arkansas men (13-8, 2-6 SEC)

DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT

Nov. 8 SIU-Edwardsville W, 99-65

Nov. 15 La.-Lafayette W, 76-63

Nov. 18 SMU W, 89-78

Nov. 25 California# L, 85-77

Nov. 26 Minnesota# W, 87-73

Nov. 27 Gonzaga# L, 91-81

Dec. 3 SE Louisiana W, 111-65

Dec. 7 Clemson W, 74-68

Dec. 12 Savannah St. W, 72-43

Dec. 19 Tennessee-Martin W, 102-56

Dec. 21 South Alabama% W, 72-60

Dec. 28 High Point W, 89-48

Jan. 4 Texas-San Antonio W, 104-71

Jan. 8 at Texas A&M* L, 69-53

Jan. 11 Florida* L, 84-82 (OT)

Jan. 14 Kentucky* W, 87-85 (OT)

Jan. 18 at Georgia* L, 66-61 (OT)

Jan. 22 at Tennessee* L, 81-74

Jan. 25 Auburn* W, 86-67 J

an. 28 Missouri* L, 75-71

Feb. 1 at LSU* L, 88-74

Feb. 5 Alabama* 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 at Vanderbilt* 3 p.m.

Feb. 13 at Missouri* 6 p.m.

Feb. 15 LSU 4 p.m.

Feb. 19 South Carolina* 8 p.m.

Feb. 22 at Mississippi State* 3 p.m.

Feb. 27 at Kentucky* 6 p.m.

Mar. 1 Georgia* 3 p.m.

Mar. 5 Ole Miss* 7 p.m.

Mar. 8 at Alabama* 3 p.m.

Mar. 12-16 SEC Tournament Atlanta

#Maui Invitational

%Verizon Arena, North Little Rock

*SEC game

Sports, Pages 30 on 02/02/2014

Upcoming Events