Beverley Scores 29 in Hog Debut as Arkansas Routs SEMO

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -Patrick Beverley scored 29 points in his first college game, leading Arkansas to a 92-52 win over Southeast Missouri State on Friday night.

Beverley, a freshman from Chicago, had 16 points in the first half, including five 3-pointers. He added another 3-pointer in the second and finished 11-of-13 from the field.

Arkansas led 43-30 after scoring the last seven points of a helter-skelter first half. The Razorbacks then added the first six points of the second half and weren’t threatened again.

Arkansas has won 12 straight season openers and 33 straight home openers.

Beverley received a technical foul in the first half along with Southeast Missouri State’s Brandon Foust after a scramble under the basket. That did little to curtail Beverley’s emotions.

He made his fourth 3-pointer to put Arkansas ahead 33-24, then drew an offensive foul at the other end. After that, he spent about 10 seconds waving his arms to fire up the crowd of 11,952.

Foust, Paul Paradoski and Michael Rembert scored 12 points each for Southeast Missouri State, which was playing its first game under coach Scott Edgar. The Redhawks went 7-20 last season.

Arkansas went 22-10 in 2005-06, returning to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. The Razorbacks now must replace Ronnie Brewer and Jonathon Modica, who were their top two scorers.

Coach Stan Heath substituted liberally all game. Junior college transfer Sonny Weems scored 12 points, and Gary Ervin – a transfer from Mississippi State – had eight points and five assists.

Vincent Hunter added nine points and seven rebounds for the Razorbacks.

The Razorbacks return to action on Saturday, Nov. 18, with a 7:05 p.m. home contest against Stephen F. Austin State.

Download: semo box.pdf