Townes, Brewer, Modica Pace Arkansas to Ninth Straight Victory

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Ronnie Brewer scored 23 points to lead the Arkansas Razorbacks to an 83-54 win over the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Sunday. The victory was the ninth straight for Arkansas (11-2) before it heads into Southeastern Conference play this month. The winning streak is the longest for Arkansas since the 1995 Razorbacks won 10 straight. Coach Stan Heath also picked up his 50th win with the Razorbacks. Recovered from the flu which helped limit him to a career-low matching two points in Friday`s win over Texas-Pan American, Brewer scored 11 points in the first 3:43 of the second half as the Razorbacks started with a 16-2 run. Darian Townes scored seven points during an 11-0 Arkansas first-half run as the Razorbacks pulled away for good. The scoring streak put the Razorbacks up 25-12 just past the midway point of the first half. The Leathernecks went more than five minutes without scoring in the stretch. Western Illinois (4-7) was never closer than 11 points again. Arkansas scored 39 points off the Leathernecks` 24 turnovers. Townes was 7 of 8 from the field, scoring 19 points, a season best. Townes also added a game-high 11 rebounds after getting a game-high 12 boards in Friday`s win over UTPA. Jonathon Modica had 16 points on five-of-10 shooting along with four rebounds and two steals. Dontell Jefferson had eight assists, five points and three steals. NaVonta Kentle led Western Illinois with 11 points. Heath`s record at Arkansas is now better than .500 (50-49) for the first time since early in 2002-03, his first season. Arkansas` 11-2 record matches the school`s second-best win total entering conference play. UA was 12-1 last year, 11-0 in 1978 and 11-1 in 1995. UA also improved to 11-2 over the last 13 years in its final non-conference contest before beginning league play.