SEC BASKETBALL ARKANSAS 69, TENNESSEE 64

Arkansas survives late scare

Arkansas senior Rashad Madden celebrates a made three against Tennessee Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks won 69-64.
Arkansas senior Rashad Madden celebrates a made three against Tennessee Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks won 69-64.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks got their payback against Tennessee, but it wasn't easy.

Arkansas beat Tennessee 69-64 Tuesday night at Walton Arena before an announced crowd of 12,753.

Game sketch

RECORDS Tennessee 12-7, 4-3 SEC; Arkansas 16-4, 5-2

STARS Bobby Portis had 17 points and 8 rebounds and Michael Qualls scored 17 points for Arkansas. Tennessee guard Josh Richardson had 17 points and 6 assists.

TURNING POINT Ignited by a Ky Madden three-pointer, Arkansas outscored the Volunteers 9-4 in the final 4:30, including 2 of 2 free-throw shooting by Madden and Qualls, to break away from a 60-60 tie.

KEY STATS Arkansas outshot Tennessee 47.1 percent to 43.6 percent and had 19 assists to the Vols’ 10.

UP NEXT Arkansas faces Florida at noon Central Saturday at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Two weeks earlier, the Vols beat the Razorbacks 74-69 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Junior guard Michael Qualls hit two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to clinch Tuesday night's game for the Razorbacks (16-4, 5-2 SEC) after the Vols nearly tied it on the previous possession.

Arkansas led 67-64 when the Vols inbounded the ball with 11.9 seconds left after a timeout following a turnover by Razorbacks senior guard Ky Madden.

Tennessee senior point guard Josh Richardson drove hard to the basket, then passed to the corner to a wide-open Robert Hubbs, whose three-point attempt bounced off the rim.

"We had a good look there at the end," Vols Coach Tennessee Donnie Tyndall said. "Good pass, good shot. I'll let Robert have that shot every time. He'll make the next one."

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said he talked to his players during the timeout about defending the three-point line, but the Razorbacks converged on Richardson when he got into the lane.

"We bit on a penetration, so we didn't execute," Anderson said. "We talked about everyone staying at home and we give them a two.

"We were fortunate the ball didn't go in, but we got the rebound and there's the game."

Qualls grabbed the rebound, was fouled by Armani Moore and then put the game out of Tennessee's each.

It was the Razorbacks' third consecutive victory that went down to the final seconds, along with beating Alabama 93-91 in overtime on Bobby Portis' tip-in basket and winning 61-60 at Missouri when Wes Clark missed two free throws with 3.3 seconds left.

Portis, a sophomore forward, had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Qualls had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Qualls started the game 1 of 5 from the field but then hit 4 of his last 6 shots. He hit 5 of 7 free throws.

"I love Qualls," Tyndall said. "He's one of my favorite players in the league. Even when things don't necessarily go his way early, he's going to keep competing, keep fighting. He's a relentless dude."

Qualls scored 14 of Arkansas' 34 points in the second half.

"No matter how I start, I always want to finish better," Qualls said. "If I come out in the first half playing well, then second half I still want to play better. If I come out in the first half and I'm not playing as well, of course I've got to pick it up. Just try to do whatever to help the team."

Richardson led the Vols (12-7, 4-3) with 17 points. Hubbs added 15 points.

Madden hit a three-point basket to put the Razorbacks ahead for good, 63-60, with 4:27 left.

"I'm certainly happy for our guys," Anderson said. "They found a way to win a hard-fought game."

Anderson repeated a quote often used by Nolan Richardson, the former Arkansas coach for whom Anderson played and was a longtime assistant.

"My mentor used to say a raggedy ride is better than a smooth walk," Anderson said. "So it was one of those games."

The game was tied 14 times and had eight lead changes.

"This is loudest place we've been in all year," Tyndall said. "I thought our kids showed a lot of competitiveness, a lot of fight."

Arkansas freshman guard Anton Beard scored 10 points off the bench, all in the first half, after being limited in the second half because of foul trouble. Madden had nine points.

Tennessee pulled to within 63-62 on Kevin Punter's layup then Anthlon Bell's jump shot gave Arkansas a 65-62 lead with 3:41 left.

Detrick Mostella's three-point basket put Tennessee ahead 50-45 with 15:10 left.

The Razorbacks then outscored the Vols 9-0, including three-point baskets by Madden and Qualls, to move ahead 54-50 with 12:25 left.

The Vols tied it 56-56 on Punter's layup.

Qualls caught a long pass from Bell and dunked to put the Razorbacks ahead 58-56 with 7:06 left.

Richardson's jump shot tied it 58-58. After Bell hit a 12-foot jumper, Richardson tied it again at 60-60 on a driving basket with 5:30 left.

Arkansas had possession with a chance to take the final shot of the half when Jabril Durham was called for traveling with 14.8 seconds left.

Richardson then drew a foul and hit two free throws to give the Vols a 37-35 lead.

Ky Madden missed a driving attempt at the basket with with two seconds left and the Razorbacks couldn't get off a follow-up attempt.

Sports on 01/28/2015

Upcoming Events