Hogs Rally For Key Road Win at Alabama

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 (56-55) with 11:49 left in the game. Alex Reese temporarily stopped the run with a dunk 11 seconds later to put Alabama up one (57-56). However, Arkansas answered with an 8-0 run to go up seven (64-57).

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-to-back trips down the floor.

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

Chaney with a Rejection

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 pints.

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.

Jones Steal to Extend the Lead

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 36 – Alabama 39

• Alabama scored the first 12 points of the game.
• Arkansas answered with an 18-6 run to tie the game, 18-18. First, the Hogs started with a 9-2 run to get to within five (14-9). Arkansas then used a 9-4 run, capped by a Mason Jones 3-pointer, to tie the game, 18-18 (9:34).
• Arkansas took its first lead, 23-22, at 7:15 after a 3-pointer by Desi Sills followed by a Jimmy Whitt steal that led to a Mason Jones layup.
• Arkansas; largest lead was six points (30-24) at 4:22 after two free throws by Desi Sills.
• Alabama went on a 15-3 run to lead 39-33. However, Maron Jones sank a 3-pointer with six seconds left to make the halftime deficit 39-36.
• Mason Jones scored 17 first-half points, making 6-of-9 from the field (2-of-3 3PT FG).

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 46 – Alabama 39

• Alabama opened the second half and grabbed a pair of seven-point leads, the second being 49-42 at 16:46.
• However, Arkansas battled back to get its first lead of the second half, 56-55 at 11:49, on a Jimmy Whitt layup.
• The Hogs pushed their lead to seven (64-57) at 8:35.
• Alabama used an 8-0 run to lead by three (69-66). Whitt ended the run with a layup at 3:42 to make it a one-point game (69-68). Jalen Harris followed with two free throws and a 3-pointer to put Arkansas up 73-69.
• During a three-minute stretch inside the final four minutes, Arkansas went on an 11-1 run to secure the win.
• Jimmy Whitt scored 18 of his 26 in the second half.
• Arkansas shot 51.9 percent from the field in the second half, 60 percent from 3-point range (3-of-5) and 75 percent from the free throw line (15-of-20).
• The Razorbacks only committed three second-half turnovers.

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.
• Arkansas won the tip for the 11th time in 21 games this season. Arkansas is 9-2 in such games.
• 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.
  - Other double-digit deficits overcome including being down 11 with 16:04 left at Indiana (Arkansas won 71-64) and being down 11 with 14:20 left at Ole Miss (Arkansas won 76-72).

• 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.
• Something had to give. 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%).
• (@HogStats) In the 3-point era, Razorback guards have scored 20-plus points in a game without making a 3-pointer nine times. Jimmy Whitt has accomplished the feat seven times. Corey Beck and Robert Shepherd each did it once.
• (@HogStats) Mason Jones’ 30 points tonight versus Alabama is his fourth 30-point game of the season. That is the most by a Razorback in one year since Jannero Pargo had five in 2001-02.
• (@HogStats) A Razorback has scored at least 30 points seven times this season. That is the most since 1984-95 (all by Joe Kleine).
• Arkansas has 11 steals, marking the sixth time it has reached double digits in a game this season and the first time since getting 12 versus Tulsa (Dec. 12).
• Arkansas forced 17 turnovers. It was the 15th time the Hogs have forced at least 15 in a game this season and the seventh time in eight SEC games.