Bench play key for Hogs in 7-1 start

NWA Democrat-Gazette/Anthony Reyes CENTER OF ATTENTION: Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson talks with center Moses Kingsley (33) between plays against Houston Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. With improved bench play this season, Anderson has been able to limit Kingsley's minutes.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/Anthony Reyes CENTER OF ATTENTION: Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson talks with center Moses Kingsley (33) between plays against Houston Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. With improved bench play this season, Anderson has been able to limit Kingsley's minutes.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Last season, it was unthinkable for Arkansas to remove center Moses Kingsley from the game unless he was in foul trouble, exhausted or the Razorbacks were irrevocably behind or ahead.

For these current 7-1 Razorbacks, coach Mike Anderson can and does rest Kingsley, the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, for as long as he wishes in both halves.

Trey Thompson, a burly 6-9 junior from Madison and Forrest City High grad, plays that well as the backup center.

Kingsley's 14 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots, one assist and one steal effort in Tuesday night's 84-72 victory over the Houston Cougars at Walton Arena stemmed in part from his freshness. Thompson totaled the other 13 minutes remaining from Kingsley's 27, spelling him during each half.

Thompson blocked two shots within three seconds during a 12-0 run in the first half.

In the second half at 9:34 and Arkansas only up four, Thompson hit a surprise corner jumper. He scored again at 7:44, upping a three point lead to five and dished an assist each half.

Thompson only netted one rebound, but used his bulk to box out Cougars allowing other Razorbacks to get the rebound and outboard Houston, 39-31.

Anderson attributed Kingsley's 10-points/7-rebounds second half in part to the seven minutes that Thompson spelled him in the first half.

"Moses Kingsley and everyone were getting rebounds down the stretch because they were a lot fresher," Anderson said. "In the second half I thought Moses established himself a little deeper in there and we swung the ball to him and he was able to finish. So we just have to put two halves for him together and I think we will see how much Moses has improved. But he's got help now. That's the beauty of it all. There's no pressure on Moses that 'I have got to do this' because we have other guys that are contributing in a big way like Trey Thompson. I thought he played well."

Junior guard Anton Beard, nine points two rebounds, an assist and two steals in 24 minutes, was another subtle component off the bench while senior guard Dusty Hannahs tied with Daryl Macon with a team-high 17 points.

"I thought Anton Beard had his imprint on this game in both halves tonight," Anderson said.

Hannahs, a Little Rock native and Pulaski Academy grad, scored 17 points in 17 minutes.

"Look how efficient he is," Anderson said. "And he was spent, too. He played hard and he played the right way. He's still starting in my mind."

Like Nolan Richardson, Anderson's mentor for whom he played at Tulsa and assisted for 17 years at Arkansas, Anderson's style makes the bench often as important or even more important than the starters.

Though four of the five starters, Macon, Kingsley, Dustin Thomas and Manuale Watkins all posted big games against Houston, the bench "got the game ball," Anderson said.

Freshman guard C.J Jones netted a key three-pointer, one assist and two rebounds in seven minutes. Freshman forward Adrio Bailey netted two rebounds, one point and an assist and junior college transfer forward Arlando Cook's rebound contributed to the Hannahs, Beard, and Thompson effort off the bench.

Dead even with Houston 38-38 on points in the paint, and points off fast breaks, 12-12, Arkansas gaveled Houston off the bench.

Arkansas reserves outscored Houston's reserves 34-14 and fatigued the Cougars down the stretch.

"The difference in this game was our bench play," Anderson said.

Sports on 12/08/2016

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