FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks made sure Auburn didn't ruin their senior night.
The Razorbacks beat the No. 14 Tigers 91-82 on Tuesday night in Walton Arena in the final home game for the team's seven seniors.
The Razorbacks (21-9, 10-7 SEC) also prevented the Tigers (24-6, 12-5) from clinching a share of the SEC regular-season championship.
Freshman forward Daniel Gafford led the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. The blocked shots matched Gafford's career high against Vanderbilt.
Razorbacks senior guard Jaylen Barford had 20 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and 3 assists, and senior guard Daryl Macon had 16 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists.
Senior guard Anton Beard added 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists for Arkansas. Senior forward Arlando Cook had a season-high seven points.
Sophomore guard Mustapha Heron led Auburn with 28 points. Tigers sophomore guard Jared Harper scored 20 points, and junior guard Bryce Brown scored 12.
Auburn pulled within 84-78 on Harper's jump shot with 3:05 left.
Macon missed his second front end of a 1-and-1 free throw, but Gafford got the rebound and passed to Macon, who gave him the ball back for a dunk to make it 86-78.
Beard hit two free throws for an 88-78 Arkansas lead with 1:28 left and added a free throw with 43 seconds left to make it 89-80.
Barford's two free throws with 34 seconds left put the Razorbacks up 91-82 to clinch the victory.
After Tennessee won at Mississippi State earlier Tuesday night, the Tigers needed to beat Arkansas to claim a share of the SEC title.
Auburn and Tennessee are now tied for the SEC lead at 12-5 with the Tigers finishing the regular season against South Carolina at home and Tennessee playing Georgia at home on Saturday.
Arkansas improved to 21-4 against Auburn in Fayetteville and earned a split against the Tigers, who beat the Razorbacks 88-77 at Auburn Arena on Jan. 6.
The Razorbacks went 15-2 at Walton Arena, where their only losses this season were to LSU and Kentucky.
Arkansas closes the regular season at Missouri on Saturday.
Gafford hit Arkansas' first three baskets of the second half -- with two dunks and a hook shot -- and Macon hit a three-pointer to give the Razorbacks a 61-42 lead with 17:45 left.
Macon's basket was the 12th consecutive made shot by Arkansas -- including six dunks, five by Gafford and one by Macon -- going back to the 6:16 mark of the first half when Gafford dunked.
Auburn pulled within 65-58 with 14:06 left on two free throws by Harper.
Arkansas made it 70-58 on C.J. Jones' three-pointer. Heron's reverse layup cut the Razorbacks' lead to 70-60.
Beard scored on a drive and hit 1 of 2 free throws, and senior forward Arlando Cook hit a jumper to put Arkansas ahead 75-60 with 10:53 left.
After Auburn made it 75-65, Barford hit a three-pointer and jump shot to push the Razorbacks' lead to 80-65 with 8:05 left.
Heron hit a 30-foot shot at the halftime buzzer to pull Auburn within 52-42.
After the Tigers took a 3-0 lead, the Razorbacks moved ahead 10-3, including three-pointers by Beard and Macon.
The Tigers made it 10-8 on Brown's driving basket.
Barford and Macon hit back-to-back three-pointers for a 16-10 Arkansas lead.
Brown hit two free throws to cut Auburn's deficit to 18-14 with 14:20 left in the half.
Two free throws by Adrio Bailey gave the Razorbacks a 24-14 lead.
Brown hit two free throws to make it 24-16. Macon's three-pointer put Arkansas up 27-16.
The Tigers outscored the Razorbacks 10-1 over a 1:31 span, including Harper hitting 5 of 5 free throws, to pull within 28-26.
Arkansas went on a 17-6 run, with Gafford scoring nine points, to push its lead to 45-32 with 1:51 left in the half.
Harper's driving basket cut the Razorbacks' lead to 50-39.
Barford hit two free throws to make it 52-39 with 2.7 seconds left before halftime.
Game sketch
RECORDS Arkansas 21-9, 10-7 SEC; Auburn 24-6, 12-5 STARS Arkansas freshman forward Daniel Gafford (21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocked shots) and senior guards Jaylen Barford (20 points, career-high 10 rebounds) and Daryl Macon (16 points, 6 assists). Auburn sophomore guard Mustapha Heron (28 points). TURNING POINT The Razorbacks pushed their lead to 61-42 with 17:45 left to open the second half. KEY STAT Arkansas made 10 of 19 three-pointers. UP NEXT Arkansas plays Missouri at 5 p.m. Saturday in Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
Sports on 02/28/2018