Arkansas @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2019 ) Alabama 70, Arkansas 82

Arkansas tries to snap a three-game losing streak in conference games when it visits Alabama for an SEC contest Saturday. The Razorbacks are coming off a 79-77 loss to South Carolina Wednesday, while the Crimson Tide had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 90-76 setback at LSU on the same night.

The Razorbacks use a guard-heavy lineup, led by junior Mason Jones, who is averaging 19.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game and is the only player in the SEC to lead his team in all four categories. Fellow guards Isaiah Joe (16.8 points, 72 3-pointers) and Jimmy Whitt Jr. (14.9 points, 5.0 rebounds) make up the strength of coach Eric Musselman's offensive attack. Alabama's strength is also in the backcourt, with sophomore guard Kira Lewis Jr. leading the team in both scoring (16.7 points) and assists (4.8). Junior guard John Petty Jr. adds 15.8 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per outing, shooting 46.8 percent from 3-point range.

TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT ARKANSAS (15-5, 3-4 SEC): The Razorbacks rank sixth in the SEC in free-throw percentage, hitting 72.9 percent of their attempts from the charity stripe, but their shooting from the line cost them against South Carolina. Arkansas earned 40 free-throw attempts in the two-point loss, hitting just 26 of them (65 percent). During the team's current three-game losing streak in conference games, the Razorbacks have connected on just 52 of 81 attempts, or 64.2 percent, and lost by a grand total of 16 points.

ABOUT ALABAMA (12-8, 4-3): Alabama coach Nate Oats admits that injuries are a part of the game, and most teams are dealing with one ailment or another at this time of the season. But the Tide are hopeful that they'll have senior guard James Bolden and junior swingman Herbert Jones against the Razorbacks. Bolden missed the loss to LSU with an illness, which he is still trying to get over, while Jones suffered a wrist injury in the loss to the Tigers that has limited him in practice heading into Saturday's game.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Arkansas leads the nation in 3-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to hit just 24.6 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.

2. Alabama freshman G Jaden Shackelford had a team-high 21 points, including a career-best-tying five 3-pointers, in the loss to LSU.

3. The Razorbacks lead the SEC in fewest turnovers per game (12.1).

PREDICTION: Arkansas 78, Alabama 75