FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Darian Townes keyed a first-half run Saturday that sparked the Arkansas Razorbacks to a 72-52 SEC upset of the 19th-ranked Louisiana State Tigers.
Arkansas broke up a tight game with a 15-5 run that Townes ignited with a pair of lay-ups. The spurt put the Razorbacks up, 24-15, with 6:31 to go in the first half.
Arkansas pushed the lead to 39-26 by halftime and led by double digits most of the second half.
The decision snapped a three-game Razorback losing streak and boosted Arkansas' record to 13-6 overall and 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference. Louisiana State is 13-5 overall and 2-2 in the league.
Steven Hill paced Arkansas with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Sonny Weems added 13 points and Charles Thomas had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Toss in Gary Ervin's 11-point game and 10 from Townes and the balanced Razorbacks placed five players in double figures.
The Tigers got 16 points from Glen Davis and 10 from Terry Martin.