Razorbacks come up short in SEC opener against LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. — Trae Hannibal scored a game-high 19 points, including two driving baskets inside the final 1:12, to lead LSU (12-1; 1-0 SEC) to a 60-57 victory over No. 9-7 Arkansas (11-2, 0-1 SEC) Wednesday night in the teams’ SEC opener.

The game featured 10 ties and seven lead changes with no team leading by more than six points throughout the game.

Down three, Davonte Davis hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, 47-47, with 5:10 left.

Arkansas also tied the game at 49 on an Anthony Black putback with 4:27 left before the Razorbacks took a 2-point lead, 51-49, on a pair of Makhi Mitchell free throws.

The lead bounced back and forth over the next 30 seconds. Then, with 2:28 left, Derek Fountain converted an old-fashion 3-point play to put the Tigers up two. Arkansas cut the deficit to one before Hannibal made the first of his late-game layups. The Razorbacks would get back to within one before Hannibal’s second layup.

Arkansas once again answered on a second Black putback to make it a one-point deficit for the Razorbacks with 21 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, Mitchell blocked a shot that led to a fastbreak opportunity, but the Razorbacks could not take advantage.

Arkansas was forced to foul, and Adam Miller made two free throws with 1.8 seconds left to put the Tigers up three. A final half-court attempt bounced off the rim to preserve the LSU win.

Fountain finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Davis led the Hogs with 16 points while Ricky Council IV and Jordan Walsh each scored 13. Mitchell had a game-high 12 rebounds and Walsh added nine. Black had seven points, eight rebounds and four assists with just two turnovers in 40 minutes.

Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena to host Missouri on Wednesday (Jan. 4). Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

Hogs find way to win in three overtimes over Kansas

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s probably fair to say Arkansas found a way to win a game they tried pretty hard to lose.

Oh, there will be some complaining about the officiating, but Wednesday night’s 55-53 win over Kansas in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl is still huge.

“I’m proud of our football team,” Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said later. “Very proud. We had a lot of challenges going into the game.”

That was because the Hogs were playing with only 48 scholarship players.

This win gives Pittman two out of three winning seasons, finishing at 7-6 on the year.


We are under way at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis and Arkansas will have the ball first.

We’ll have a running commentary throughout the game.

First Quarter

1Q 11:12: Razorbacks take the opening kickoff and drive 56 yards in 10 plays with KJ Jefferson passing and running to set up Cam Little’s 37-yard field goal for an early lead. Hogs 3, Kansas 0

1Q 8:23: Kansas’ offense turns Hogs’ defense in circles on first drive with wide open receivers for Jalon Daniels as the secondary is not reading anything correctly. Daniels passes to a wide open Ky Thomas, who runs 13 yards into the end zone to complete a 26-yard scoring pass that was the second way-too-easy completion on an opening drive. Kansas 7, Hogs 3

1Q 6:05: This time it’s the Jayhawks’ secondary that doesn’t see Matt Landers running wide open down the left sideline, but Jefferson sees him and delivers a 59-yard scoring strike. Are we looking at a track meet? Especially as Kansas fumbles away the ensuing kickoff and Harper Cole recovering for the Hogs. Hogs 10, Kansas 7

1Q 5:57: After recovering the fumble, Jefferson finds Ty Washington wide open in the middle for a 17-yard scoring play. Remember the question about track meet? Hogs 17, Kansas 7

1Q :23: Razorbacks put an exclamation point on first quarter with Jefferson getting the last three yards of a 73-yard drive for a whopping lead coming to the end of the period. Hogs 24, Kansas 7

Second Quarter

2Q 5:02: This is getting downright boring. The Jayhawks really can’t stop the Hogs’ offense and it’s almost like they are toying with Kansas. AJ Green gets a 20-yard scoring romp down the right sidelines due in part to Kansas’ apparent lack of interest in doing anything about it. This is turning out to be a pleasantly surprising blowout. Hogs 31, Kansas 7

2Q 1:18: Kansas finally comes up with an answer as Daniels completes a 24-yard scoring pass. The Jayhawks did one of those things that backfire often by chasing points in the second quarter and blow a 2-point conversion pass, killing momentum some. They will get the ball first in the second half, though. Hogs 31, Kansas 13

It looked like the Hogs were going to score again before halftime before KJ Jefferson threw an interception in the end zone, but still have dominating 31-13 lead at the break with Kansas getting the ball first in the second half.

Third Quarter

3Q 8:43: Hogs wearing down Kansas and have probably put this one away with a 10-play, 80-yard drive and Rashod Dubinion getting the last two yards up the middle. This one may be out of reach. Hogs 38, Kansas 13

3Q 3:15: Jayhawks show some life and get a score before the fourth quarter on a two-yard run by Ky Thomas to cap a five-play, 86-yard scoring drive. Hogs 38, Kansas 20

Fourth Quarter

4Q 14:07: Kansas inches a little closer to the Hogs, who went three-and-out after a score. The Jayhawks and get a 36-yard field goal from Owen Piepergedes and has the momentum. Hogs 38, Kansas 23

4Q 1:05: Jayhawks getting closer and will have a shot to tie the game. Daniels completes a 10-yard scoring pass right down the middle and add the extra point. Then they recover an onsides kick. Hogs 38, Kansas 30

4Q :41: Jayhawks tie the game unbelievably after recovering the kick, then moving downfield 50 yards in 24 seconds to score on a 21-yard pass, then a 2-point conversion pass to Lawrence Arnold but Jefferson will have some time and three timeouts. Hogs 38, Kansas 38

Razorbacks end regulation with running back AJ Green running out of bounds instead of at least attempting to cut back into middle as clock runs out. We go to overtime.

Unbelievable.

First Overtime

1st Possession: Kansas scores on a fourth-down pass from Daniels to Casey, who was all alone in the end zone and added the extra point, Now it’s the Hogs’ turn. Kansas 45, Hogs 38

2nd Possession: It takes the Hogs two plays with a pass to Matt Landers, then a run by Rashod Dubinion scores and they choose to tie the game and do it all again. Hogs 45, Kansas 45

Second Overtime

1st Possession: Hogs need just two plays and Jefferson scores on a 20-yard run. Jefferson then has to double-clutch the throw for two points, but finds Jaedon Wilson coming across the back. Hogs 53, Kansas 45

2nd Possession: Kansas converts the 2-point conversion and targeting on Quincy McAdoo gives the Jayhawks a second chance on the conversion attempt (after an extensive video review) and one of the playmakers is ejected as a result. On the second attempt from the 1, Daniels completes a pass to Casey who gets it into the end zone. We go to a third. Hogs 53, Kansas 53

Third Overtime (2-point Attempts Only)

1st: Jefferson flicks a little pass to Dubinion. Hogs 55, Kansas 53

2nd: For some unexplained reason, the Jayhawks have a wide receiver try a pass that is seriously overthrown. Hogs 55, Kansas 53

Hogs’ analyst Matt Zimmerman in Baton Rouge for SEC opener tonight

Players having fun on road trips ahead of starting league play tonight against LSU and crowd won’t be huge.

HawgSports’ Danny West on transfer portal now taking center stage

With the first national signing day in the past, we’ll start watching transfer portal for new Razorbacks arrivals.

Former Razorback Broderick Green on team heading into Liberty Bowl

With Chuck Barrett and Tommy Craft looking at the Hogs and memories of playing in Memphis in years past.

Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- December 28, 2022

Liberty Bowl and Hogs Hoops the same day! Buck vs. SVP? Incoming 2023 Class!

Guests- Matt Zimmerman & Danny West

Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: No excuses from Pittman and Co

Tye, Tommy and Chuck on Pittman not making excuses, LSU to open conference play and more!

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9:15 – Matt Zimmerman

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Liberty Bowl and Hogs Hoops the same day! Buck vs. SVP? Incoming 2023 Class!

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How to watch-listen to Razorbacks’ SEC opener at LSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 9-7 Arkansas opens SEC play versus LSU, who the Razorbacks have played more than any team since joining the SEC, on Wednesday (Dec. 28).

Tipoff in Baton Rouge, La., is set for 8 pm and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Who: No. 9-7 Arkansas Razorbacks (11-1, 0-0 SEC) at LSU Tigers (11-1, 0-0 SEC)

What: SEC opener for both teams.

When: Wednesday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m.

Where: Baton Rouge, La.,  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215)/Dale Brown Court

Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Phil Brame and Matt Zimmerman)

Sirius/XM: 138 (Sirius)/190 (XM), SXM App: Channel 961

Jordan Walsh (Gunnar Rathbun / Arkansas Communications)

Game notes

• This will be the 76th all-time meeting between Arkansas and LSU and 69th since the Razorbacks joined the SEC. Arkansas leads the all-time series, 41-34, and is 37-29 versus the Tigers since joining the SEC. Arkansas has won three straight in the series and four of the last five.

• The Tigers lead 19-13 in games played in Baton Rouge, including 18-12 in SEC action in Baton Rouge.

• Arkansas has played LSU 66 times since joining the SEC. The next closest is Mississippi State (59), followed by Alabama and Ole Miss (56).

• The Razorbacks are 18-13 all-time in SEC openers.

• This will be the third straight year — and the eighth time in 11 years — Arkansas has opened SEC play on the road.

• Arkansas is 6-7 when opening SEC play of the road.

• Arkansas lost last year’s SEC opener (at Mississippi State) but won four straight SEC openers prior to that.

• Arkansas is ranked No. 9/7 which is the program’s best ranking heading into SEC play since being #3 for the 1994-95 SEC opener. Overall, it is the eighth time Arkansas has been ranked when opening SEC played.

• Arkansas has an NCAA NET of 10 (through Dec. 25) thanks to an 11-1 start.

• This is the highest NET for Arkansas since it was instituted.

• Previous highs 14 (3/15 & 4/6/21) • 20 (3/7 & 14/22) • 23 (12/16/19)

• Last year at this time, Arkansas was 90 in the NCAA NET before finishing 21st.

• There are four teams with a league-best record of 11-1 including Arkansas, LSU, Missouri and Mississippi State. Arkansas will play two of those teams ­­— at LSU and vs Mizzou — to start SEC play. Kentucky is the only other team that will start the season versus two SEC teams currently 11-1 — at Mizzou (Dec. 28) before hosting LSU (Jan. 3).