The Sports Xchange
Dec 30, 2017
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Arkansas senior guards Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford both had career-high scoring games and the Razorbacks erased a nine-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation and went on to defeat No. 19 Tennessee 95-93 in overtime Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams.
Macon scored 33 points and Barford added 28 for Arkansas (11-2, 1-0 SEC), which trailed 70-61 with 3:53 remaining in regulation. The Razorbacks did not take their first lead of the game until freshman forward Daniel Gafford's dunk off a pass from Macon put Arkansas ahead 73-72 with 44.8 seconds remaining.
Tennessee's Jordan Bone was fouled with 18.7 seconds remaining and made the second of two free throws for a 73-73 tie. Macon missed a 3-point attempt just before the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
The lead changed hands four times in the first 2:21 of overtime, but a layup by Macon with 2:39 left put Arkansas ahead 79-78 and started a 12-0 run that gave the Razorbacks an 89-78 cushion.
Tennessee's Lamonte Turner made two 3-pointers in an eight-second span to pull the Volunteers (9-3, 0-1) within two points at 93-91 with eight seconds remaining, but a pair of free throws by Macon made it 95-91 with seven seconds left.
Tennessee's Chris Darrington made two free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining to pull the Volunteers back within two points, but Arkansas got the ball inbounds safely to run out the clock.
Bone scored 21 points for Tennessee, which also got 17 points off the bench from senior guard James Daniel III. Junior forward Admiral Schofield made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points while sophomore forward Grant Williams added 12 points and Turner added 10 for the Volunteers.
Gafford had 15 points and eight rebounds and senior guard Anton Beard added 10 points for Arkansas, which won its sixth consecutive game and improved to 8-0 at home this season.
NOTES: Four of Tennessee's five starters fouled out. Arkansas had two players foul out. ... Tennessee outrebounded Arkansas, 41-34 and forced the Razorbacks into 12 turnovers, but Arkansas shot 54.1 percent from the floor (33 for 61) compared with 45.1 percent for Tennessee (32 for 71). ... Arkansas has won 11 consecutive games in Bud Walton Arena, dating to last season. The Razorbacks have beaten Tennessee six consecutive times. ... The Razorbacks have scored 90 points or more in nine of their first 13 games.