No. 7 Alabama whips Arkansas

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Posted 6:38AM on Thursday, January 31, 2002

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama took a year of pent-up emotions out on Arkansas on Wednesday night. The seventh-ranked Crimson Tide built up a 35-point lead in the second half and had five players score in double figures in a 109-94 victory over the Razorbacks. Alabama (18-3, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) lost twice to Arkansas last season, including the Crimson Tide's only defeat at Coleman Coliseum in the last two seasons and an 87-58 blowout in Fayetteville. ``Not only did they beat us at Arkansas, they really killed us,'' said Terrance Meade, who had 15 points. ``We used that as motivation and came out there and put them away.'' Freshman point guard Maurice Williams had little trouble with the Razorbacks' vaunted full-court press, getting 13 points, seven assists and three steals. The Crimson Tide had just 13 turnovers, several by the reserves late. ``I was hoping this would be the game where we would all see the difference in our team from last year to this year,'' coach Mark Gottfried said of the point guard position. ``He jumped in there and played a very, very good game.'' Freshman Earnest Shelton and Rod Grizzard each had 21 points as Alabama snapped a three-game losing streak against Arkansas, which forced 28 turnovers in the meeting here last season. Erwin Dudley added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alabama shot 60.7 percent the second half and went 13-of-29 from 3-point range. The Tide led 52-34 at halftime. ``They outplayed us in every department,'' Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said. ``They played rings around us in the first half. ``If they shoot like they did tonight, they can play anywhere against anybody in the country and win.'' The only thing Alabama couldn't do was slow hot-shooting guard Jannero Pargo, who had 33 points and was 7-of-14 from 3-point range. He had 35 points Saturday in the Razorbacks' 94-92 overtime win over No. 5 Florida, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Pargo also had six assists. ``There was not a lot of help in this game for him on offense,'' Richardson said. Michael Jones had 18 points for the Razorbacks, while J.J. Sullinger and Blake Eddins each had 11. The Tide took a 92-57 lead with nine minutes left on Travis Stinnett's 3-pointer before the reserves gave much of the lead back. Gottfried wasn't too worried about that. ``In our conference, I don't think that's something I'd dwell on at all,'' he said. ``They made some shots late in the game.'' It was a perfect night to get back in the swing of things for Alabama players. Shelton returned from a knee injury for a small role in the Tide's win last Saturday at No. 10 Kentucky, his first action in eight games. ``It was a great feeling to come back to Tuscaloosa and play,'' said Shelton, who was 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Grizzard broke out of a shooting slump, going 6-of-10 after hitting just 33 percent in his last six games. Meade had only 10 points in his last four games and hadn't scored in the past two. Alabama scored the game's first 12 points before Arkansas briefly climbed back into it. The Razorbacks cut it to 21-20, getting four free throws after the Tide bench was called for a technical. Arkansas wouldn't score again for the next five minutes as Alabama reeled off a 17-0 run. The Razorbacks' five starters combined for seven turnovers and no points in the half. The Tide finally got to enjoy one against Arkansas. ``It was great, man,'' Meade said. ``Everything was falling. We did the things we needed to do to win the game.''