Arkansas Fights Off South Carolina for SEC Tournament Victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Arkansas men’s basketball team survived and advanced Wednesday at the SEC Tournament. The Razorbacks defeated the University of South Carolina Gamecocks 72-68 in their first-round matchup at Bridgestone Arena, just eleven days after suffering a significant loss to the same opponent.

Arkansas, now with a record of 20-12, will face Ole Miss in the second round on Thursday at noon Central. The Razorbacks appeared to have the game in hand after building a 20-point lead early in the second half at 54-34. However, South Carolina launched a determined comeback, narrowing the gap to just one point at 61-60 with 3:55 remaining.

A series of missed shots from Arkansas, totaling 12 consecutive attempts within an 11-minute span, opened the door for the Gamecocks, who went on a 19-2 run. Despite this, Arkansas regained control in the closing moments of the game.

“We have a bunch of guys that compete and did what they had to do to win the game, so I’m happy,” said Arkansas Coach John Calipari following the game.

Trevon Brazile led the Razorbacks with 16 points, along with seven rebounds and four blocks. His efforts were crucial for Arkansas as he scored six vital points in the final 40 seconds. Jonas Aidoo also made an impact, contributing a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles kept the pressure on Arkansas, scoring a game-high 20 points with 12 rebounds. Murray-Boyles’ jumper brought the Gamecocks within one point right before Wagner’s critical 3-pointer halted their momentum.

After briefly falling behind, Arkansas regained their footing with a timely offensive rebound from Brazile, who assisted in the eventual three-pointer from D.J. Wagner with 2:37 left, making it 64-60. Murray-Boyles cut the lead to two points shortly after with a dunk, but Arkansas’s defense and free-throw shooting sealed the game.

D.J. Wagner finished the game contributing 13 points and six assists, continuing to display his role as a leader on the floor. Nelly Davis recorded 14 points, contributing with clutch free throws down the stretch to ensure the Razorbacks kept their postseason hopes alive.

In a stark contrast to their previous meeting, where Arkansas managed just 14 points in the first half, the Razorbacks shot 55% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc in the first half of this game, leading to a strong halftime score of 47-30.

With the victory, Arkansas may have also solidified their chances for an at-large bid in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, especially as they stand at 5-1 since late February. They entered the game being projected as a No. 11 seed by ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi.

The Razorbacks will look to continue this momentum as they are set to meet Ole Miss, who previously handed them a 73-66 defeat during the regular season on January 8. Arkansas will need to bring their best performance yet as they strive for a deeper run in the tournament.