By Harry King

FAYETTEVILLE — Well-deserved, this is a public apology to the Arkansas basketball team and its coaches.

Seventeen days ago, the column was about how the Razorbacks were minutes from second place in the Western Division and couldn’t hold off Florida. The instant analysis decreed that the Razorbacks might never be that close to the No. 2 spot the rest of the season.

No. 2 be danged. Halfway through conference play, this team is in first place … alone.

Mississippi State lost at Florida, a seatmate two to the left said with Arkansas in front of Auburn 74-73 on Saturday and 1:52 left in overtime. From there, Courtney Fortson wouldn’t let his team lose.

Seconds after Frankie Sullivan’s dead-on 50-footer boinged off the back rim at the buzzer of the 82-79 decision, the P.A. man updated the crowd on the division standings. In the middle of the court, the Arkansas coach acknowledged the “Pel-phrey, Pel-phrey” from the student section.

Include me in the multitudes who did not see first place in the Razorbacks’ future. In early January, a 6-10 conference record seemed about right, particularly if Arkansas could survive the opening stretch at 2-4. The Razorbacks did one better, including the breakthrough at Oxford, and are on a roll, mostly on the back of Fortson.

Consider Arkansas’ plight going into overtime at 67-all. During the team on-court confab with Pelphrey, Michael Washington, the Razorbacks’ most experienced inside player, remained on the bench, his left ankle sore, his shoe off.

Such circumstances never faze Fortson, who sat in his folding chair until the horn said it was time to begin OT.

He drove and executed an in-close bounce pass for a Marshawn Powell layup for the lead, handed out another assist for a tie at 71, and, left alone, made his only 3 of the game for 74-71. He dipped in and stepped back for a jumper and made two free throws for 78-73. DeWayne Reed’s try was way short and Fortson — who else — came up with his 10th rebound. He probably should have dribbled away some clock, but he lit out for the other end and finished for 80-73.

Even at the end of regulation, it was Fortson.

The beneficiary of an NBA continuation call, Powell’s three-point play tied it at 65. Reed tried to drive and you know who got his hands on the ball. There was a 10-second differential between the game clock and the shot clock and Fortson dribbled out front, killing time. He knew he was going to the basket and Auburn knew he was going to the basket, and he did it anyway for 67-65 with 15 seconds left. The fact that Arkansas made a mistake and allowed an easy basket at the buzzer only set the stage for Fortson.

In the pre-game notes, Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said Fortson had been sort of a “poor man’s Devan Downey in the second half.” In the final 25 minutes against Auburn, Fortson had 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

“Him being added to the team the last eight games has changed the whole way they play,” he said.

More accurately, his presence has changed the attitude with which the Razorbacks play.

Now 5-3, Arkansas should remain in first place through the middle of next week. Nothing will come easy for this team, although LSU on Wednesday night might be the least-talented team in the SEC and 6-3 is to be expected. The next night at Starkville, either Ole Miss or Mississippi State will drop to 4-5 in the league.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.