Hogs Rally For Key Road Win At Alabama

Razorbacks turn back the Tide with comeback

From the Arkansas Razorbacks

arkansasrazorbacks.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.

– Mason Jones scored 30 points and Jimmy Whitt Jr., added 26 to lead Arkansas to an 82-78 come-from-behind road win versus Alabama Saturday evening at Coleman Coliseum. The Razorbacks snap a 3-game SEC losing streak and improve to 16-5 (4-4 SEC) while the Crimson Tide falls to 12-9 (4-4).

Jones, who scored 34 points Wednesday versus South Carolina, becomes the first Razorback to score at least 30 points in back-to-back games since Jannero Pargo accomplished the feat in January 2002. Ironically, Pargo’s second game of the 30-30 night was also in Tuscaloosa versus Alabama as he scored 35 versus Florida and 33 at Alabama.

Alabama, which had won eight of its last 11, raced out to a 12-0 lead to start the game and forced two quick timeouts by head coach Eric Musselman. The Razorbacks got back on track and tied the game, 18-18, midway through the first half.

The teams played even, for the most part, the rest of the way with the Crimson Tide taking a 39-36 lead into halftime.

Alabama jumped out to a pair of seven-point leads early in the second half. However, the Razorbacks used 14-2 run to lead by one (5655) with 11:49 left in the game. Alex Reese temporarily stopped the run with a dunk 11 seconds later to put Alabama up one (5756). However, Arkansas answered with an 8-0 run to go up seven (6457).

The game of runs continued as Bama reeled off 12-2 run to lead by three (68-66) with 4:11 remaining. Undaunted, Arkansas went on an 11-2 run of its own to lead by seven, 77-70, with 1:20 left in the game. Whitt scored six in the run and Jalen Harris five, including two free throws and a 3-pointer in back-toback trips down the floor.

Arkansas hit 5-of-6 free throws inside the final minute to secure the win.

Jones was 10-of-20 from the field (4-of-7 from 3-point range).

He added five rebounds and two steals. Whitt was 11-of-19 from the field, 4-of-4 from the line with four rebounds and an SEC career-high four steals.

Harris was 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line in scoring a season-high 11 points. Reggie Chaney tied a career-high with 11 points. Jordan Shackelford led Alabama with 28 points.

Game Notes:

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Reggie Chaney (F) for the first time this season.

It was the fourth different starting lineup this season.

• Alabama’s Alex Reese scored the first points of the game, a 3-pointer at 19:35. Desi Sills scored Arkansas’ first points, a layup at 16:34. It was his third time to score the team’s first points of the game this season.

• Arkansas is 16-5 for the first time since 2014-15. Those Bobby Portis-led Hogs went on to win seven straight after its 16-5 start and finished the year 27-9, winning two games in the SEC Tournament and one in the NCAA Tournament.

• This was the second time Arkansas has faced a 12-point deficit this season. The Hogs were down 12 to Kentucky in the second half with 1:57 left in the game. Arkansas trimmed the deficit to five before losing by seven.

• Arkansas was won six straight in the series versus Alabama.

Arkansas has won two straight versus the Tide in Tuscaloosa but is just 8-20 all-time in Coleman Coliseum.

• Arkansas led the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage defense while Alabama led the SEC in both 3PT% (35.1%) and 3-pointers made.

(Alabama entered the game with 207 3-pointers made and the next closest is 167.)

• Arkansas held Bama to just 8-of-31 (25.8%) from 3-point range.

• Mason Jones has pulled down at least five rebounds in 18 of his 20 games played.

Jones has scored at least 20 points in four straight games. The last player to score 20-plus in five straight games was Daryl Macon, who did it seven times in 2019.

• Reggie Chaney tied his career high with 11 rebounds, matching his total from the Northern Kentucky game earlier this season. The 11 boards were also an SEC career-high.

Chaney was 4-of-5 from the free throw line. The four made is a career high and the five attempts are an SEC career high. Chaney was 2-of-3 from the field. He has made 22 of his last 28 from the field (78.6%).

Arkansas returns home to face Auburn on Tuesday (Feb. 4). Tipoff at Bud Walton Arena is set for 6 pm and the game will be telecast on SEC Network.