Arkansas Comes up Just Short at #1 Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – In a game where neither led by more than nine points, top-ranked Auburn went 6-of-6 from the free throw line over the final 1:15 to hold on for a 67-60 victory over Arkansas Wednesday night at Neville Arena.

Arkansas, which led 58-57 with 3:06 to play, made several runs at the Tigers but Auburn was able to pull out the win.

After making just one of its first 11 3-pointers, Arkansas got on track when D.J. Wagner drilled a triple to get the Hogs to within three (37-34). Then, Karter Knox hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to tie the game at 37-37. However, Auburn answered with a 6-0 run.

Arkansas was down just four (45-41) with 11:44 to play but committed back-to-back turnovers and Auburn took a 49-41 lead.

Johnell Davis put the Razorbacks on his back. He hit a jumper in the lane and, after getting a steal, had a dunk. Aft4er an Auburn basket, Davis was fouled shooting a 3-pointer. He made 2-of-3 and the Hogs trailed by two (57-55) with 4:22 to play. Arkansas got a stop and Adou Thiero, on an offensive rebound, was fouled. He made 1-of-2 at the line to make it a one-point game (57-56).

Arkansas got another defensive stop and Davis made a layup with 3:06 to play to give Arkansas its 58-57 lead.

Auburn used a  6-0 run to take the lead back. Chad Baker-Mazara immediately put Auburn back on top with a layup. Johni Broom got an offensive rebound and putback. Baker-Mazara capped the run with two free throws for a 63-58 lead.

Adou Thiero cut the Razorback deficit to three (63-60) with two free throws with 1:01 left.

Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones each sank a pair of free throws inside the final minute to give Auburn the 67-60 victory.

Broom led Auburn with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Baker-Mazara had 15 points and Chaney Johnson finished with 14 points.

Arkansas was led by Adou Thiero’s 16 points. Johnell Davis added 14 points, four assists and three steals. D.J. Wagner scored 11 points and had five assists.

Auburn outrebounded Arkansas 42-29 but Arkansas stayed in the game with 10 steals and five blocked shots. The Tigers were 13-of-17 at the free throw line compared to Arkansas being 7-of-14.

Arkansas returns to Fayetteville to host #15/16 Missouri on Saturday at 7 pm. During the game, the 1990 Razorbacks’ Final Four team will be celebrated.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 27 – Auburn: 33

• The first half featured four ties and nine lead changes.
• With Arkansas up four (21-17) with 6:43 left, Auburn went on an 11-0 run to lead 28-21.
• Arkansas shot 42.9% from the field despite going 1-of-9 from 3-point range and just 2-of-6 at the free throw line.
• Auburn was held to 38.7% shooting but out-rebounded Arkansas 23-15.
• Arkansas had five steals and forced seven Auburn turnovers.
• The Razorbacks blocked four shots while Auburn, the nation’s leader in blocked shots, had zero.
• Adou Thiero led Arkansas with seven points while Johnell Davis and D.J. Wagner each added six.
• Johni Broom led Auburn with eight points and seven rebounds.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 33 – Auburn: 34

• While Arkansas was out-rebounded by 13 for the game, the Tigers only held a 19-14 advantage on the boards in the second half.
• Arkansas held Auburn to 0-of-10 shooting from 3-point range in the period.
• Arkansas shot 48.1% from the field in the second half while Auburn shot 41.9%.

GAME NOTES:

• For the sixth-straight game, Arkansas’ starting lineup was D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic.
• Auburn won the opening tip.
• Johnell Davis scored the game’s first point with a layup at 19:38.
• Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond III and Jonas Aidoo were Arkansas’ first subs.
• Auburn entered the game fifth in the NCAA in scoring at 85.1 ppg, but was held to its third-lowest points for the season.
• Auburn entered the game second in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio but only had 11 assists with 12 turnovers.
• Auburn entered the game first in the NCAA in blocked shots (6.9 avg.) but had a season-low two versus Arkansas. Arkansas entered the game third in the NCAA in blocked shots (5.8 avg) and had five
• D.J. Wagner played all 20 minutes of the second half. He has done so six times this season.
• This was the 61st meeting between Arkansas and Auburn. The Razorbacks own a 38-23 advantage in the series but the Tigers lead 16-13 in games played in Auburn.
• For the second time this season, Arkansas faced the top-ranked team in the nation. The Hogs opened SEC play at #1 Tennessee. Arkansas has only beaten the AP #1 team three times and fall to 3-13 all-time versus the AP #1 team.
• Auburn was 0-of-10 from 3-point range in the second half. Over the last seven games, opponents are just 14-of-75 (18.7%) from 3-point range in the second half.
• Zvonimir Ivisic had three blocked shots at Auburn and has 24 blocked shots over the last nine games. He has at least three blocked shots in each of his last five games.
• Johnell Davis had three steals and has 22 over the last eight games. He only had 10 steals the first 16 games of the season.

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