On the court as players they were similar-looking, smooth-shooting, high-scoring guards.

On the court as coaches?

Polar opposites.

West Memphis' Marcus Brown paces the sideline, steps onto the court frequently and frenetically coaches his team through highly-animated motions.

Little Rock Parkview first-year head coach Scotty Thurman is much calmer on the sidelines.

Some 24 years ago, the two hooked up on the collegiate court with Brown as a high-scoring Murray State guard and Thurman helping lead the Arkansas Razorbacks to a national championship and national runner-up in consecutive seasons.

They squared off as coaches on Tuesday night at Lehr Arena as Brown's Blue Devils got the best of Thurman's Little Rock Parkview Patriots 75-54.

The two played against each other twice in their college careers. Brown's Racers played the eventual national-champion Hogs in the first-ever regular-season game at Walton Arena on Nov. 29, 1993.

The Hogs overpowered Murray State 93-67 with Brown scoring 13 points for the Racers and Thurman hitting 10 points for the Razorbacks.

On Dec. 10, 1994, the Hogs downed the Racers 94-69, but Thurman did not play due to an injury.

Thurman, who took over this year for long-time Parkview head coach Al Flanigan, who retired, said he's known Brown for much longer than their college days.

"I've known Marcus since I was 16 years old," said Thurman. "We played against his Murray State teams, and he was a great player. He's also a great guy. Great memories of playing against Marcus."

Thurman spent several years on Coach Mike Anderson's staff at Arkansas before Anderson was fired after last season. Thurman was not retained by new head coach Eric Musselman.

"I'm so happy for Scotty and proud that's he's the new coach at Parkview," said Brown. "We were close to being teammates in college and we turned about to be rivals. He was immortalized by hitting the biggest shot in Arkansas school history."

Thurman's crucial three-pointer with less than a minute to play, helped the Razorbacks defeat Duke on Monday, April 4, 1994 in the National Championship Game.