Arkansas thumps Georgia

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Georgia can't quite seem to find its offense.

Arkansas beat the Bulldogs 62-47 on Wednesday at Bud Walton Arena, snapping a three-game losing streak to Georgia, and winning by its largest margin since a 75-54 victory during the 1999-2000 season.

But the Bulldogs (7-13, 1-9 Southeastern Conference), who tied a season-low for points for the fourth time this season and a third time in the past four games, have started a trend that has negated solid defense.

"We go through scoring droughts," coach Dennis Felton said.

In their past two games, the Bulldogs' defense has allowed 61 points per game, which would rank among the league leaders in scoring defense. SEC-leader and No. 5-ranked Kentucky (18-2, 9-0) allows 59.3 ppg. The Razorbacks (16-7, 4-6) allowed 61.7 ppg heading into Wednesday's game.

But as well as Georgia has done denying their past two opponents chances to score - South Carolina beat the Bulldogs 60-53 on Saturday - it has been as bad converting its possessions into points.

The Bulldogs go on long scoring droughts, and teams gradually pull away.

Georgia outshot the Razor-backs (47.4 percent to 45.8) in the first half, but failed to score over the final 4:44 before halftime.

Another long offensive lapse of more than four minutes allowed the Razorbacks to push their lead to 55-37, their largest of the game, with 4:06 left to play. Georgia failed to score on eight straight possessions during the final drought.

Lengthening the Bulldogs' odds of an SEC-caliber offensive night was the absence of Levi Stukes. The Bulldogs' leading scorer sat out for the third time in six games. The sophomore guard, who sprained his right ankle during practice on Jan. 17, aggravated the injury during Saturday's 60-53 loss to South Carolina.

Freshman Kevin Brophy, who started in Stukes' place, played all 40 minutes, but didn't score.

Fellow freshman Channing Toney led the Bulldogs with 21 points.