AUBURN, AL National Player of the Year Candidate Johni Broome scored a double-double to help No. 1 Auburn defeat Arkansas 67-60 on their home court. Broome had 13 rebounds and 16 points in the end.
Johnell Davis’ layup with three minutes remaining gave the Razorbacks a quick lead after they had been behind for the majority of the game. Auburn displayed class by scoring the next six points to end the game and keep Arkansas from making a field goal for the remainder of it, even though the Hogs’ chances of making the tournament were on the line.
“People are not killed by us. They are the best team in the nation because of this, according to coach John Calipari. “They made the plays and they made their free throws.”
For the Hogs, four players scored in double figures, with Adou Thiero leading the pack with 16. Davis contributed fourteen, and Knox and Wagner each contributed eleven.
Despite much of the same problems that beset the Razorbacks in the early going of SEC play, Arkansas was just six points behind at the half.
The Hogs had 11 offensive rebounds and were outscored 23-15, going just 1 for 9 from beyond the arc in the first half.
After starting the game 15 for 27 from three in his previous five games, Zvonimir Ivisic went 0-9 from beyond the arc and did not score a point in the first half.
Arkansas, which has the third-lowest turnover rate in the nation at only nine per game, forced seven turnovers in the first half. Auburn led 33-27 at the break after a 16-6 run at the end of the half.
Trevon Brazile’s regrettable own score on a tip-in gave Auburn the lead back after the Razorbacks had tied the game with a 10โ4 surge to start the second half. The fortunate moment became a 6-0 run for Auburn.
Both teams went a combined 7-for-43 from beyond the arc, struggling. Additionally, Arkansas only made four of their first eleven free throws and finished with a 50% success rate from the charity stripe.
Calipari remarked, “We had a chance to win,” Have you listened to what I just said? [From beyond the arc] 3-for-19. What if we had an 8-for-19 record? How many of those were wide open, may I ask you? Many of them. All we need to do is take some photos.
Missouri will visit Arkansas at 7 p.m. Either ESPN or ESPN2 will broadcast the match.
