- Arkansas squanders 20-point lead but escapes with 72-68 victory
- Trevon Brazile dominates with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks
- South Carolina rallies with 19-2 second-half run before falling short
- Razorbacks advance to face Ole Miss in SEC Tournament second round
The Arkansas Razorbacks delivered March Madness-level drama in their SEC Tournament opener, surviving a furious South Carolina comeback attempt to secure a 72-68 victory. Despite building a 20-point advantage early in the second half, Arkansas nearly became tournament history's latest cautionary tale before clutch plays from Johnell Davis and Trevon Brazile sealed the win.
Arkansas appeared destined for a routine victory after closing the first half on an 11-0 run to lead 47-30 at halftime. Center Jonas Aidoo dominated the opening period with 14 points, while South Carolina struggled to contain the Razorbacks' interior presence. The momentum shifted dramatically in the second half as Arkansas went ice-cold from the field, missing 12 consecutive shots during an 11-minute scoring drought.
South Carolina capitalized with a 19-2 scoring burst, trimming the deficit to 61-60 with under three minutes remaining. Freshman Collin Murray-Boyles spearheaded the rally with 20 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing why he's become one of the SEC's most promising young talents. The Gamecocks' defensive adjustments limited Arkansas to just 25 second-half points after surrendering 47 in the first.
The Razorbacks finally broke through when D.J. Wagner drained a crucial three-pointer at the 2:37 mark, followed by Brazile's tip-in that provided critical breathing room. South Carolina had opportunities to tie in the final seconds, but Davis' steady free-throw shooting iced the game for Arkansas.
Tournament Insights:
- Bench production remains critical - Arkansas reserves outscored South Carolina's 18-3
- Second-half shooting slumps plague 63% of SEC teams in tournament openers
- Teams converting 80%+ free throws win 73% of close conference tournament games
This matchup serves as a regional case study in SEC competitiveness, with lower-seeded teams covering spreads in 8 of the last 10 tournament openers. Arkansas' ability to survive despite their offensive collapse demonstrates the value of experienced guards in March. The Razorbacks' 14-18 free throw performance (77.8%) proved decisive in a game decided by four points.
Looking ahead to Thursday's matchup against Ole Miss, Arkansas must address their second-half execution. The Rebels won January's meeting 73-66 behind strong perimeter defense, holding Arkansas to 28% three-point shooting. With both teams fighting for NCAA Tournament resumes, this second-round clash could significantly impact March Madness seeding.
The near-collapse highlights the razor-thin margins in conference tournaments. Arkansas' 20-point lead marked their largest in SEC Tournament history since 2015, yet required last-minute heroics to preserve. For South Carolina, the valiant comeback effort signals program progress under second-year coach Lamont Paris, despite finishing the season 12-20.
