Arkansas struggled from the free throw line but connected from long distance when it counted.
B.J. Young buried a 3-pointer in double overtime to seal the Razorbacks’ 88-80 win against Auburn at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas (11-5, 2-1 SEC) missed key free throws at the end of regulation and the end of overtime. The Hogs were just 20-of-33 from the charity stripe. Auburn also struggled as they were 7-of-17.
The Tigers (8-8, 2-1) were able to get to overtime when Allen Payne hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in regulation.
“It was a hard-fought win for the Razorbacks,” head coach Mike Anderson said. “We had to fight all game and that was over 40 minutes. Hats off to Auburn; they would not go away. They made some big shots. I’m proud of our guys because of our resolve. It went back and forth and in the end we got the result we wanted.”
Marshawn Powell led all players with 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting while pulling down 11 rebounds. Young added 22 points and Mardracus Wade finished with 12 point off the bench.
Auburn was on fire for most of the second half and finished hitting 50 percent (31-of-62) from the field including 11 3-pointers. The Tigers were hampered by 18 turnovers including several consecutive possessions late in the second half that allowed Arkansas to erase a six point deficit.
The Tigers were led by Frankie Sullivan with 26 points as he was 5-of-11 from 3-point range. Rob Chubb added 12 points and 11 rebounds..
The win was Arkansas’ second straight in league play and seventh in the last eight games. The Hogs will travel to Ole Miss on Saturday.