Field Level Media
Feb 27, 2021
Justin Smith scored 19 points to lead a balanced scoring effort and added 10 rebounds as No. 20 Arkansas dominated the second half on its way to an 83-75 SEC victory over LSU on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark.
JD Notae and Moses Moody added 18 points each and Davonte Davis had 15 as the Razorbacks (19-5, 11-4) outscored the Tigers (14-8, 9-6) 51-38 in the second half, won their ninth consecutive SEC game and strengthened their hold on second place in the league.
Cameron Thomas scored 25, Trendon Watford had 16 and Javonte Smart added 15 to lead LSU, which defeated Arkansas 92-76 on Jan. 13 in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU led by seven points twice early in the second half before Arkansas had its best offensive stretch of the game.
Moody had nine points and an assist to help the Razorbacks take a 51-46 lead.
Watford ended Arkansas' 9-0 run with a basket and added a 3-pointer to get the Tigers within 53-51.
Davis made back-to-back layups as the Razorbacks opened a 66-54 lead midway through the half. They led by as many as 21 points before the Tigers closed the deficit in the final moments.
In the first half, LSU took a quick 8-2 lead before Arkansas closed within 14-10 with 13:01 left when Notae made a jumper to become the first Razorback other than Davis to make a basket.
Smith's layup got Arkansas within 16-15 midway through the half, but Thomas and Watford converted three-point plays and Smart hit a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 28-19 lead.
LSU took its biggest lead of the half at 30-20 on a Thomas jumper before the Razorbacks came alive.
Jaylin Williams' layup pulled Arkansas within 30-27 as the Tigers missed seven consecutive shots.
Mwani Wilkinson ended the drought by making a 3-pointer and LSU rebuilt the lead to seven before taking a 37-32 halftime lead.
--Field Level Media