Arkansas 89, Nicholls State 60

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas had a look that rarely, if ever, showed during Stan Heath's first season during an 89-60 victory over Nicholls State Friday night.

The Razorbacks looked comfortable. That is, until reporters and cameras descended upon them.

"It felt good to be in a comfort zone," said Jonathan Modica, who tied a career high with 26 points. "Guys were making shots. Hold on guys, I've got to put my shirt on."

Heath instituted a rule that players can't do television interviews without their shirt on, so Modica, who looked calm on the court making 11 of 16 shots, fumbled to cover himself.

The whole team displayed Modica's cool shooting presence, making 57.4 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the free throw line. In a 9-19 season last year, Arkansas (1-0) made just 39.3 from the field and 60.9 from the line.

"I'd take that any day of the week," Heath said. "We had good balance inside and out. We attacked the basket. We shot the ball from range pretty well. For our team to get to the line and then converting is important. That's great for us."

In addition to Modica's career night, Ronnie Brewer had 18 points in his first college game. Brewer, who played down the street from Bud Walton Arena at Fayetteville High School, threatened to record a triple-double in his first game as a Razorback.

He finished with eight assists and seven rebounds.

"All I can say is Ronnie can play," Modica said. "He's a complete player and I love his game. He can do it all and I'm just glad he decided to come here."

Brewer is the son of Ron Brewer, who played with Sidney Moncrief and Marvin Delph for Eddie Sutton's 1978 Final Four team at Arkansas.

Brewer and Modica, a sophomore who led the team in scoring last year with just 11.5 points per game, showed good chemistry during the game. Many of Brewer's assists were to Modica, including a behind-the-back pass that Modica took and dunked for a 72-53 lead with about 5 minutes left in the game.

"When Ronnie is on the floor you always have to keep your eyes open," Modica said.

Brewer was part of a standout recruiting class that included Vincent Hunter, who had nine points and five rebounds, and Olu Famutimi, who had seven points.

Modica and the freshmen helped Arkansas score more points than it ever did in Heath's first season, when the Razorbacks never scored more than 81. Sophomore guards Eric Ferguson and Kendrick Davis had 12 points and 11 points.

The Razorbacks only had four 20-point scorers during a 9-19 season in Stan Heath's first year at Arkansas. Modica had two of those, scoring 26 in both games.

Nicholls State, which had lost its past five openers by an average of 19 points per game, proved to be easy fodder for the freshmen's debut. The Colonels (0-1) debuted eight new players, including point guard Willie Depron, a transfer from Mississippi Junior College, who finished with 21 points.

Jason Wilkins, another junior college transfer, added 19 points.

Nicholls State has now lost 15 games in a row.

Arkansas opened the second half with a 15-2 run, putting the game out of reach for Nicholls State.

"They played at a speed we weren't able to keep up with," Colonels coach Ricky Blanton said. "Everything they did was good. They are a young team with a good coach and they are growing."

Brewer provided most of the flash in the first half with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists. Brewer also did something rarely seen during Heath's first season -- he created his own scoring opportunities.

All three freshmen had scored their first points in an Arkansas uniform with 2:27 left in the first half when Famutimi made a pair of free throws. The freshmen picked up the Razorbacks' shooting from the line, where they shot just 60.9 percent last year, making 7 of 8 in the first half.

The trio of newcomers made 11 of 14 for the game and Arkansas shot 79.2 percent from the line as a team.

Four free throws and a steal from Famutimi sparked an 11-5 run that gave Arkansas a 41-27 halftime lead.

Led by Depron's 13 points, Nicholls State had cut an early 11-point deficit to 26-20 with 4:15 left in the half.