By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas forward Marshawn Powell turned in, by his account, the worst game of his life during the Razorbacks’ loss at LSU last Wednesday.
The freshman bounced back from his frustrations by scoring a game-high 27 points against Vanderbilt in Bud Walton Arena. He went 12 of 21 from the field and added nine rebounds, although it wasn’t enough to help the Razorbacks pick up a much-needed home win.
“I was helpless at LSU,” Powell said of his five-point, seven-turnover performance against the Tigers. “I bounced back here, but it still doesn’t feel as good as it would’ve felt if I had two points and a win.”
Powell did his best to help the Razorbacks during a sluggish first half, though. He scored 21 of the Hogs’ 35 points getting buckets both inside and out, leaving an impression on the Commodores.
“Man, first half he was giving us the business,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. “He worked us over in the first half. … But we knew he was really talented coming in. He jumps off the TV screen when you start watching tape because he’s so good.”
Vanderbilt regrouped at halftime and came up with a better plan for guarding Powell in the second half. The Commodores tried to suffocate his offensive chances with a zone defense and limited his work on the glass.
Powell scored six points after the break and fell short of his career high of 29 points. However, he did eclipse the 20-point mark for the third time in four games.
“It doesn’t surprise us,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said of Powell’s performance. “You hate to put that type of statement on a young guy, but he’s really, really played well all season long. He’s had some bad games here or there. But he comes back and works. The kid gave a tremendous effort (Saturday). We knew he was going to do that. We just need to do the same thing as a team.”
Washington Returns
Forward Michael Washington may not have been 100 percent, but the forward returned from an ankle injury to play against the Commodores on Saturday.
The senior, who missed his third game of the year against LSU on Wednesday, played 22 minutes off the bench and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Delvon Johnson started against Vanderbilt, but Washington checked in at the 15:25 mark.
“Mike, I thought, gutted it up there,” Pelphrey said. “I’m surprised he got 22 minutes in. It will be interesting to see what happens to him now after that.”
Playing From Behind
Arkansas trailed throughout Saturday’s loss to the Commodores, marking the second straight game the Razorbacks have never led.
The Razorbacks last led when Powell made a bucket with 3:30 remaining in the loss at Auburn. But the Tigers scored 15 seconds later en route to a 92-83 win.
It means Arkansas has not had a lead in the past 83:15 of game time dating back to the Auburn loss.
“Looking up there and never being in control of the game is tough,” Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke said. “Always trying to cut into a lead or trying to make a run.
“It’s just how it’s gone the past two games.”
Turnover, Turnover
One of Arkansas’ biggest problems against LSU was committing a season-high 21 turnovers in the loss. It didn’t get much better early against the Commodores.
Arkansas turned the ball over on its first three possessions en route to a 6-0 deficit. Courtney Fortson and Marshawn Powell, who combined for 14 turnovers at LSU, were responsible for the first two miscues.
It didn’t continue the entire game. In fact, the Razorbacks finished with 13 turnovers Saturday.
“(It was) bizarre starting the game with some turnovers and only end up with 13,” Pelphrey said. “We don’t turn it over the rest of the night, but it kind of set a little bit of a tone there starting out.”
