AUBURN — Delvon Johnson has dreamed of making a game-winning three-point basket.
In reality, Johnson slammed home a dunk with five seconds left to lift Arkansas to a 57-55 victory over Auburn on Saturday before an announced crowd of 7,208 at Auburn Arena.
“The dunk was better than the three,” Johnson said with a smile. “It was exciting.”
Johnson, a 6-9 senior center who transferred to Arkansas last year from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, said Saturday marked the first time he hit a game-winning shot.
“Never before,” he said. “Not even playground ball.”
After Arkansas (18-10, 7-7 SEC) led for 37:06, Auburn forward Kenny Gabriel hit alayup to tie the score 55-55 with 28 seconds left.
Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey then called a timeout with 14.8 seconds left to set up a play for the final possession.
Pelphrey said the coaching staff considered several options, but decided to go with a play in which Johnson set two screens for guard Rotnei Clarke - who led the Razorbacks with 17 points - and then flashed to the basket.
After Johnson set the second screen and Auburn forward Chris Denson waslate making a switch with Gabriel, Arkansas point guard Julysses Nobles found Johnson open under the basket for the dunk.
“We were switching everything, and we had a guy that didn’t switch,” Tigers Coach Tony Barbee said.
“Our guys ran it to perfection, they really did,” Pelphrey said. “Rotnei set it up great. Delvon screened.
“Julysses probably ended up making a little bit longer pass than I would have liked ... but he threw it hard and Delvon got it. Somebody was trying to get underneath him, but he wasn’t having any of it. He chinned the ball and went right to the basket.”
The Tigers had stopped Arkansas on its three previous possessions and rallied from a 55-48 deficit after a three-point play by Razorbacks forward Michael Sanchez with 3:50 left.
“We executed our tails off offensively and defensively down the stretch, except for the very last play,” Barbee said. “We broke down.
“When your margin or error is very small, all it takes is one play to break down.”
The Tigers still had time to get off a shot, but guard Josh Wallace’s 35-foot heave bounced off the backboard at the buzzer.
“We actually practice thatshot before every game, so I thought it had a good chance,” Wallace said. “It almost went in.”
The Razorbacks seemed to have the game under control, leading 39-28, with 14:01 left after a free throw by Mardracus Wade.
But Auburn (9-19, 2-12) wouldn’t give up and was energized by its crowd. Earlier this season, the Tigers overcame a 19-point deficit in the final 12 minutes to beat Mississippi State 65-62.
“Auburn is the type of team that is going to play hard regardless, but when they fall behind it’s like they even play harder,” Pelphrey said. “It’s really a tribute to their coaching staff and the character of those kids.”
Arkansas senior guardMarcus Britt had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists without a turnover. Johnson had 6 points and 7 rebounds and was limited to 25 minutes because of 4 fouls.
Arkansas sophomore forward Marshawn Powell also had 4 fouls and scored 4 points in 19 minutes.
Gabriel led Auburn with 13 points. Earnest Ross had 11 points and seven rebounds and Wallace added 9 points, 5 assists and 2 steals.
The Tigers shot 35.8 percent from the field (19 of 53), including 25.9 percent (7 of 27) in the first half.
“Have we seen that before? Is that something new?” Barbee said, referring to the Tigers shooting 40.1 percent from the field on the season coming into Saturday’s game. “We’ve seen it all year long.
“Offensively, we are what we are. We have challenged, and this was nothing different.”
Arkansas survived 17 turnovers, and shot 34.8 percent from the field (8 of 23) in the second half, but got a basket when it was needed the most.
“Our team is operating better,” Pelphrey said. “That last play is predicated at Ju going at the right time, Delvon getting the back screen, Rotnei getting all the way off of it and coming all the way back. Delvon rescreening and then catching the ball.
“It’s a team thing. It’s not just one guy, and none of these guys can do it without each other.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 02/27/2011