truebluefan

In his career as both a college and professional coach, Andy Stoglin isn’t sure he’s ever mastered the art of teaching a team to protect a lead.
The Arkansas ArchAngels didn’t help him figure it out Saturday.
Arkansas topped the Tuscaloosa Druid City Dragons 104-97 at UALR’s Trojan Fieldhouse — a margin that only looks impressive until the rest of the game is taken into account.
Arkansas carried a 81-57 lead into the fourth quarter.
“There’s something about a lead,” Stoglin said. “Guys start playing for their points or their girlfriends instead of playing the right way. With the three-point shot in the game, the game is never over.”
Tuscaloosa (1-1 ) drove that point home in the final quarter, connecting on three consecutive three-pointers to close the gap to eight. It took an 11-point scoring flurry by Brandon Freeman in the final three minutes to keep the ArchAngels from surrendering the lead completely.
Freeman led all scorers with 25 points.
Arkansas (1-1 ) built its lead with its size, something the ArchAngels neglected to do in a one-point loss to North Mississippi the night before. No one on Tuscaloosa’s roster could match up with 7-1 center Marcus Campbell, nor with his 7-0 backup, Jack Marlow.
The ArchAngels’ work in the middle opened up the long-range game early on. Chad Wise came off the bench to hit two threepointers in the first quarter, with another coming from Garrett Richardson.
A good portion of that insideout game fizzled out in the final period thanks to foul trouble. Marlow fouled out late in the game, and Campbell and Wise both finished with four fouls.
But to Stoglin, fouls took a back seat to focus, or the lack thereof.
“They can’t make them if you’re out on them,” Stoglin said. “But guys keep playing that hope-you-miss defense.”
James Hall led Tuscaloosa with 22 points. ARCHANGELS (1-1 ) Grimes 2 2-2 7, Freeman 8 7-7 25, Cole 2 2-2 6, Joiner 5 0-0 10, Campbell 10 0-2 20, Hampton 3 0-0 6, Richardson 3 2-2 9, Wise 5 0-0 13, Lipsey 1 0-0 2, Marlow 3 0-0 6. Totals 42 13-15 104. DRAGONS (1-1 ) Williams 5 5-6 17, Thomas 0 1-2 1, Myles 5 0-0 10, Echols 2 1-4 5, Cutler 6 2-4 14, Ward 4 1-1 9, Law 2 0-0 5, Gibson 6 2-3 14, Hall 8 2-2 22. Totals 38 14-22 97. ArchAngels............... 32 29 20 23 — 104 Dragons................... 18 24 15 40 — 97 Three-point goals — ArchAngels 7 (Wise 3, Freeman 2, Grimes, Richardson) Dragons 7 (Hall 4, Williams 2, Law). Total fouls — ArchAngels 21, Dragons 17. Attendance — 136.