TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas fell 92-88 in overtime at No. 16 Alabama in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon inside Coleman Coliseum.
The Razorbacks never trailed in regulation and led by as many as 15 in the first half but a late Crimson Tide run pulled the home team even when Latrell Wrightsell Jr. sank a 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining to make the score 74-74. Khalif Battle’s 3-pointer as time expired was no good to send the game to overtime. Alabama took its first lead of the game on a free throw in OT and took the lead for good on an Aaron Estrada layup with 2:03 left, closing the game making their final six shots from the field.
After a hot-shooting first half, the Hogs cooled in the second half going 9-for-27 (33%) from the field and only making one 3-pointer. Shooting a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line kept Arkansas in control most of the second half with the Razorbacks going 24-for-27 (89%) on the day.
Arkansas used a red-hot start in the first half leading the entire time and growing a 15-point lead with 6:24 remaining in the half. The Hogs shot 51.5% (17-for-33) in the half led by Trevon Brazile’s 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and helped by a 22-14 advantage in paint points.
The Arkansas defense was also stellar forcing eight turnovers with five steals while holding Alabama to just 12-of-33 (36%) shooting from the field, including 4-of-12 from 3-point range. The Razorbacks, however, ended the half on a cold stretch making just one of their final seven shots from the field to allow the Crimson Tide to cut the lead to six, 42-36, at the break.
Battle led Arkansas with 22 points and was joined by four other Hogs in double digits. Makhi Mitchell added 18 points with Tramon Mark (13), Trevon Brazile (12) and El Ellis (11) combining with Battle to score 76 of the Razorbacks’ 88 points. The Razorbacks’ bench outscored Bama 28-16 led by Mitchell’s 18.
Alabama had six players in double figures led by Mark Sears’ 22 points. The Crimson Tide made up points by outscoring Arkansas by 10 (16-6) in second chance points and 13-6 in fastbreak points.
The Razorbacks head to Nashville next week for the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena beginning on Wednesday night.
