No. 1 Auburn has tasted defeat against a SEC foe for the first time this season. Arkansas bested Auburn, 80-76, in overtime on Tuesday. Entering the game, Arkansas had been 1-11 all-time against No. 1 teams, with the lone win coming on Feb. 12, 1984, in Pine Bluff versus a Michael Jordan-led North Carolina team.
Arkansas tied Tuesday’s game at 66 with a layup by Jaylin Williams. Auburn’s Wendell Green Jr. missed what would have been a game-winning shot with six seconds left, sending the game to overtime.
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Arkansas took the lead in overtime thanks to timely free throws by Williams, JD Notae and Chris Lykes. Auburn’s Jabari Smith kept the Tigers in the game, nailing two three-pointers in the final minute.
But the Tigers shooters fell cold down the stretch, dooming them to defeat and sending the fans rushing onto the court.
PARTY AT THE PALACE
— Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball 🐗 (@RazorbackMBB)
Notae led the Razorbacks with 28 points. Williams managed a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Smith led Auburn in scoring with 20 points, followed by Green Jr. with 19. Walker Kessler finished with a double-double on 16 points and a whopping 19 boards.
The last time Arkansas faced a top-ranked team was against Kentucky in the 2015 SEC Tournament.
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Tuesday's loss marks Auburn’s second defeat of the season – its last loss coming in November against UConn.
It was also Auburn’s second straight nail-biter. Auburn escaped Georgia with a 74-72 win just three days earlier.
