Arkansas Is Stunned at Home

David Wall staked Southern Mississippi to a big first-half lead with four three-pointers Saturday night, and the Golden Eagles beat cold-shooting Arkansas, 63-54, in the final of the John Thompson Classic at Fayetteville, Ark.

The 15th-ranked Razorbacks (1-1) made only 17 of 49 shots, and Joe Johnson, their best player, made just two of 10 shots. Southern Mississippi (2-0) led by 15 points late in the first half and Arkansas never got closer than eight until Jannero Pargo’s three-point shot cut the lead to 58-53 with 1:41 remaining.

Brad Richardson made a free throw, but Johnson threw a pass out of bounds. Wall made one of two free throws for a 60-53 lead with 38 seconds left and added two more with 25 seconds to play. He finished with 19 points.

The Razorbacks made so few baskets they were rarely able to get into their press. The Golden Eagles made each possession more valuable because they often used up 15-20 seconds far from the basket before getting in position for a shot.

Johnson missed seven shots and two free throws before he put back a miss from point-blank range. Teddy Gipson led Arkansas with 15 points.

No. 16 Notre Dame 104, Sacred Heart 58--Troy Murphy had 31 points and 14 rebounds and Ryan Humphrey added 19 points as the Irish won in Coach Mike Brey’s debut at South Bend, Ind.

Martin Ingelsby made all five of his three-pointers in the first half, as the Irish made nine of 12 three-pointers in the first half and opened a 24-point halftime lead. The Irish also had a four-point play by Matt Carroll early in the first half and had two three-point plays.

No. 17 Cincinnati 73, Boise State 61--Kenny Satterfield scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half and led a late surge that carried the Bearcats to a ragged victory at Cincinnati in the opener for both teams.

Satterfield, who has to carry the scoring load with Kenyon Martin gone, saved Cincinnati from an opening night upset by repeatedly wiggling free for short jumpers.

No. 21 Oklahoma 89, La Salle 72--J.R. Raymond scored 16 points and the Sooners (2-0) used a late run to beat La Salle in the championship game of the Sooner Invitational at Norman, Okla.

No. 24 St. John’s 92, Stony Brook 62--In only his third collegiate game, Omar Cook had a school-record 17 assists, and Willie Shaw added 16 of his 22 points in the first half in a victory for the Red Storm (2-1) at New York.

Notes

Top-ranked Arizona could be without 7-foot-1 senior center Loren Woods for the first six games of the season because of an NCAA rules violation. Arizona and Woods are appealing the decision, the school said Saturday. A ruling on the appeal is expected by Wednesday night, school officials said.