Arkansas, with game on the line, pulls away for the win

Charles Thomas scored 16 points and Arkansas made 14 consecutive free throws in the final minutes and rallied for a 61-53 overtime victory Thursday over Southern Illinois in the Old Spice Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The Razorbacks (3-0) made one field goal in the last eight minutes of regulation and only added one more in overtime, yet were able to not only hold off Southern Illinois (2-1) but pull away by shutting down the Salukis.

Patrick Beverley, Gary Ervin and Darian Townes scored 12 apiece for Arkansas.

Jamaal Tatum, who led Southern Illinois with 17 points, made one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds left to tie the score, 53-53. It went to overtime when Beverley missed a 20-footer at the buzzer for Arkansas.

It was all Razorbacks in the extra period.

Sonny Weems made two free throws to put them ahead for good, and Southern Illinois had four turnovers and missed all three of its shots from the field in overtime.

Arkansas made 20 of 26 from the foul line, including 15 of its last 16 attempts.

Marist 63, Minnesota 56 -- James Smith scored 16 points, Will Whittington had 14 and the Red Foxes held off the Golden Gophers at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Smith also had 13 rebounds for Marist (3-1).

Minnesota (2-2) trimmed a 13-point deficit to two early in the second half, but Smith’s basket started a 13-5 spurt that turned a 35-33 edge into a 48-38 advantage.

Western Michigan 71, Virginia Tech 68 -- Michael Redell made two free throws with 52 seconds left and the Broncos held on to beat the Hokies at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Redell and Joe Reitz each scored 17 points and were a combined 18 of 22 from the foul line for Western Michigan (2-2).

A.D. Vassallo of Virginia Tech (2-1) missed three three-point attempts in the closing seconds.

West Virginia 73, Montana 56 -- Frank Young scored 21 points and Joe Alexander had 18 to lead the Mountaineers (4-0) past the Grizzlies at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

West Virginia shot 52% in the second half, turning a seven-point halftime lead into a 25-point advantage. Young made three three-point baskets and also had a tip-in during the surge.

Andrew Strait led Montana (1-3) with 14 points.

Hawaii 80, Hofstra 79 -- The Warriors (3-1) made only one field goal over nearly seven minutes in the second half but used free throws to hold off the Pride (0-3) at the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.

Hawaii was 26 of 31 from the free-throw line. Hofstra made only 11 of 20 free throws.