Aaron Estrada struggled throughout but converted a tiebreaking layup with 2:03 remaining in overtime as No. 16 Alabama outlasted visiting Arkansas for a 92-88 victory Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The game was tied at 80 when Estrada got the ball on the left side. He drove past Arkansas defender Khalif Battle and scooped in a layup that gave Alabama the lead for good. After Estrada’s clutch hoop, the Crimson Tide hung on as Arkansas trailed by two points three times the rest of the way.
Estrada hit two free throws with 12 seconds left to put Alabama ahead 90-85, and Arkansas was within 90-88 after Tramon Mark’s 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining. Alabama clinched the win on Sam Walters’ dunk with 3 seconds left.
Mark Sears led the Crimson Tide (21-10, 13-5 Southeastern Conference) with 22 points and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 20, including a 3-pointer that forged a 74-74 tie with 21 seconds left in regulation.
Estrada finished with 10 as he shot 4 of 14 from the field and missed all five 3-point tries. He also handed out a game-high seven assists. His hoop helped Alabama remain in contention for the second seed at next week’s SEC tournament. The Crimson Tide never led until overtime and shot 44 percent.
Battle led the Razorbacks (15-16, 6-12) with 22 points but shot 5 of 16. Makhi Mitchell added 18 and Mark finished with 13 as Arkansas shot 44.8 percent and missed 16 of 20 3-point attempts.
The Razorbacks took a 36-21 lead on a layup by El Ellis with 6:24 left in the first half. Arkansas held a 38-25 lead before Alabama ended the half with an 11-4 spurt to get within 42-36 by halftime.
Alabama began making its move early in the second, getting within 47-45 on Wrightsell’s trey with 13:58 left and 49-47 on Estrada’s first basket less than a minute later. Arkansas surged to a 58-48 lead on a hoop by Jeremiah Davenport with 10:29 left.
Wrightsell’s 3 made the deficit four points, 72-68, with 2:32 left, but he missed a 3 with 1:49 left. After Davis airballed a 3 with 76 seconds left, Alabama’s Grant Nelson sank a trey to make it 74-71. After Mitchell blew a dunk, Wrightsell sank a 3 with 21 seconds left and Battle missed a 3 at the horn.
–Field Level Media