Arkansas clawed its way back against No. 3 Alabama but fell short in an 85-81 loss at Bud Walton Arena. In the second half, the Hogs found themselves down big but didn’t stay down for long, though they still ended up on the wrong side of the win column.
“I talked about it all day, they have to win this game,” head coach John Calipari said. “We just got to go, and let’s make it close and see what happens. The start of the second half, we just—I mean, I had to call a timeout, I had to sub, but this team never stopped, and they came back.”
Game Summary
The Hogs came out fired up thanks to a loud Bud Walton Arena. They jumped on the scoreboard first after Zvonimir Ivišić hit a jumper, but Arkansas’ offense was inconsistent far from ideal against the best offense in the country. The Crimson Tide seemed to have an answer for every Razorback basket. Arkansas found its groove and cut the Alabama lead to one with 6:19 left in the first half. However, the Hogs then went on a scoring drought, managing just one more basket before halftime, allowing Alabama to take a 40-34 lead into the break.
In the second half, Arkansas’ offense struggled to find its rhythm, and the Crimson Tide extended their lead. Alabama maintained a comfortable advantage for most of the half, but the Hogs refused to go down without a fight. With 3:57 left, Adou Thiero hit two free throws to cut the Alabama lead to eight. Arkansas’ defense stood strong, and a clutch layup from Ivišić brought the Hogs within three points with 38 seconds remaining. Despite the late push, Alabama held on to secure the 85-81 victory.
Who Stood Out for Arkansas
Zvonimir Ivišić was huge for the Hogs, contributing in nearly every facet of the game. He led Arkansas in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks in 31 minutes. He shot efficiently, going 10-of-18 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range.
“He [Ivišić] was outstanding,” Calipari said. “They screened him a couple of times, and our guys didn’t talk, so he got some stuff over the top.”
Adou Thiero continued his impressive season despite battling foul trouble. In just 24 minutes, he posted 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Thiero shot 8-of-14 from the field and made his only three-point attempt.
Looking Ahead
The Hogs will stay home and look for revenge as they host LSU in the Basketball Palace of Mid-America on Feb. 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.