2008 Woodie Awards
Townes sparks Hogs' comeback; Weems sits out
Matt Jones
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Sports
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Arkansas started each half slow in Saturday's 62-51 win over Oral Roberts. The Razorbacks fell behind by double-digits in each half, including a 10-0 deficit to start the game and trailed 36-26 less than three minutes into the second frame.
Arkansas overcame the deficits, thanks in large part to Darian Townes.
When Arkansas needed a spark, Townes was the man for the job. The senior from Alexandria, Va., scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and added four blocks for good measure.
"Early he kind of saved us," Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. "Offensively, we couldn't get anything going. Their defense was doing real good and we weren't being smart with the ball.
"Darian Townes is a good player right now mentally," Pelphrey said. "I think he's always had the physical ability. He can score the basketball. He's quick right now. He's athletic and hard to block out right now. He's getting a lot of second-chance opportunities for us."
Townes' biggest contributions came during a 1:19 stretch in the second half. With Arkansas holding a 47-45 lead, Townes scored three straight baskets for the Razorbacks and had a critical blocked shot, helping extend the lead to double-digits.
Townes' first basket in the stretch came on a put-back slam off a Charles Thomas miss to put Arkansas ahead 49-45.
On the Golden Eagles' ensuing trip down the floor, Townes blocked a shot by Shawn King leading to a break he finished with a pull-up jumper.
"That was real big on our play," Townes said. "We saw there were three seconds on the clock and we thought they were going to give the ball to the guy who shoots so well, [Robert] Jarvis. They gave the ball to Shawn King and he didn't know what to do. I just put my hands up and got the block."
After Patrick Beverley hit two technical foul free throws to extend Arkansas' lead, Townes scored again on a dunk off a pick-and-roll from Gary Ervin to give Arkansas its largest lead to that point at 55-45.
Arkansas overcame the deficits, thanks in large part to Darian Townes.
When Arkansas needed a spark, Townes was the man for the job. The senior from Alexandria, Va., scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and added four blocks for good measure.
"Early he kind of saved us," Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. "Offensively, we couldn't get anything going. Their defense was doing real good and we weren't being smart with the ball.
"Darian Townes is a good player right now mentally," Pelphrey said. "I think he's always had the physical ability. He can score the basketball. He's quick right now. He's athletic and hard to block out right now. He's getting a lot of second-chance opportunities for us."
Townes' biggest contributions came during a 1:19 stretch in the second half. With Arkansas holding a 47-45 lead, Townes scored three straight baskets for the Razorbacks and had a critical blocked shot, helping extend the lead to double-digits.
Townes' first basket in the stretch came on a put-back slam off a Charles Thomas miss to put Arkansas ahead 49-45.
On the Golden Eagles' ensuing trip down the floor, Townes blocked a shot by Shawn King leading to a break he finished with a pull-up jumper.
"That was real big on our play," Townes said. "We saw there were three seconds on the clock and we thought they were going to give the ball to the guy who shoots so well, [Robert] Jarvis. They gave the ball to Shawn King and he didn't know what to do. I just put my hands up and got the block."
After Patrick Beverley hit two technical foul free throws to extend Arkansas' lead, Townes scored again on a dunk off a pick-and-roll from Gary Ervin to give Arkansas its largest lead to that point at 55-45.
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