Veterans give punch off bench

FAYETTEVILLE — There’s a benefit for Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson in bringing Dusty Hannahs and Anton Beard off the bench.

The veteran guards not only help keep up the intensity for the reserves but they also know how to score.

Hannahs tied for the team high with 17 points and Beard added nine points Tuesday as Arkansas used its bench to help outlast Houston 84-72 at Walton Arena.

“The bench gets the game ball,” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. “I can’t say enough about the bench. And it wasn’t just the scoring part. It was their energy and their effort.

“I thought our bench came in and really caused them to expend a lot of energy. In the second half, I thought we were a lot quicker to the ball.”

Said Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson: “They’ve got good depth, and Mike does a good job using it.”

The Arkansas reserves outscored their counterparts 34-14 and triggered a 17-2 run in the first half that gave the Razorbacks early separation.

“I just go out there and hoop,” Hannahs said. “I don’t put much importance on it. I like to start, and I like to play. These buckets are coming, whether I’m coming off the bench or starting. That’s the way I look at it.”

Arkansas outscored Houston by 19 points during Beard’s 24 minutes on the floor.