FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson didn't mind that Centenary's Ronnie McCollum scored 19 points because he missed 10 of his 16 shots.

"What I enjoyed most, and Ronnie McCollum is a tremendous player and he still ended up with 19 points, but he had to get to the free-throw line to get his points," Richardson said after the Razorbacks' 88-57 victory Tuesday night. "Our defense was the difference in the ball game."

Centenary had 30 turnovers, including 20 in the first half.

"I thought that they were all over the place," said Centenary coach Kevin Johnson. "They have the athleticism and depth to do that. I am not naive enough to think that we are on the same level with the Razorbacks."

McCollum agreed.

"Their defense made it hard for me to catch the ball and do anything with it," said McCollum, who was one of the top scorers in the nation last year when he averaged almost 24 points. "This year's defense is harder and more flawless than last year."

Joe Johnson scored 19 points for the Razorbacks, who used a barrage of 3-point baskets early in the second half to pull away.

Brandon Davis, Jannero Pargo and Brandon Dean hit 3-pointers as Arkansas opened the half with a 13-3 run. Arkansas (4-1) led 37-23 at the half and began the second half by making 3-of-4 from long range. The Gentlemen (2-2) never got closer than 22 points in the final 18 minutes.

Dean made two free throws and Johnson scored from the baseline before Davis' 3 made it 44-25. Twenty-five seconds later, Pargo's 3 was good. Less than a minute later, Johnson kept an offensive rebound alive and flipped a pass outside to Dean, who made it 50-26.

The Razorbacks were 9-of-17 on 3-point attempts early in the second half, but finished with 15-of-36. Centenary made 3-of-13 3-point attempts.

Centenary's last lead was 6-5. Teddy Gipson started a 13-0 run with a free throw, and Dean followed with a layup after one of the Razorbacks' nine first-half steals. Reserve Charles Tatum came in and immediately hit a 3 from the corner.

Tatum made a steal, and Dionisio Gomez made one of two free throws for 12-6. Dean got the ball inside to Davis who tossed it back to Dean in the corner for a 3. Then, Davis came up with a steal and passed to Dean for another 3.

Olfuemi Odukoya's tip-in ended the Arkansas run.

Two straight layups by Blake Eddins increased the lead to 34-17 with 4:01 left in the half.

Dean had 15 points, Pargo 14 and Eddins 10 the Razorbacks.

Miroslav Ilic scored 13 points for the Gentlemen.