Arkansas Advances at SEC Tournament, Beats South Carolina

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Arkansas led by 20 early in the second half and survived a 17-2 South Carolina run late to hold on for a 72-68 victory over the Gamecocks in the first round of the SEC Tournament. Arkansas will face #8 seed Ole Miss on Thursday (Mar. 13). Tipoff is set for Noon and the game will be televised on SEC Network.

Trevon Brazile, who made three 3-pointers, led the team with 16 points, including a key tip-in with 1:38 left, and added seven rebounds with a career-high four steals. Jonas Aidoo had his third double-double in a four-game span, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

After going up 20, 54-34 with 17:06 left in the game, South Carolina out-scored the Razorbacks 26-7, capped by a 12-0 run, over the next 13 minutes to cut its deficit to one (61-60) with 4:20 left. Neither team scored over the next minute and a half until D.J. Wagner drilled a 3-pointer with 2:37 remaining to get the Hogs back on track and a 64-61 lead.

South Carolina got to within two after two free throws before Brazile tipped in an Aidoo miss with 1:38 left to go back up four. Jacobi Wright answered as USC was back to within two.

After a timeout, Johnell Davis made a jumper in the paint. On the ensuing possession, the Gamecocks came up empty and Aidoo grabbed the defensive rebound. Davis was fouled and sank both free throws for a six-point Razorback lead with 17 ticks on the clock.

South Carolina worked its way back to within two with three seconds left before Davis made two free throws with two ticks left to secure the four-point win.

Overall, Arkansas was 15-of-16 at the line to help secure the win.

Davis finished with 14 points, going 6-of-7 at the line, with three steals while Wagner had 13 points and a team-best six assists, making three 3’s.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 47 – South Carolina: 30

• The 17-point halftime lead was the second-best for the Razorbacks in an SEC Tournament game.
• Arkansas dominated the second half of the first half. With the game tied at 21 with 9:36 left, Arkansas went a 13-5 run (including an 11-2 spurt to start) to lead 34-26. Arkansas made 7-of-9 baskets during the run. Arkansas ended the half on a 13-2 run (including an 11-0 spurt) to lead 47-30 at the break.
• Both teams were shooting 53% from the field through the first 10 minutes. Thanks to Arkansas’ runs, the Razorbacks ended up shooting 54.8% while South Carolina dropped to 38.5%.
• Jonas Aidoo led Arkansas with 14 points and eight rebounds in the period while D.J. Wagner added 10 points and four assists. Trevon Brazile and Johnell Davis each scored eight.
• Billy Richmond III made his first 3-pointer of the season with 12:47 left. He started the season 0-of-10 from deep.
• Arkansas out-rebounded South Carolina 18-12 and forced six turnovers while committing just one.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 25 – South Carolina: 38

• Despite South Carolina’s scoring success in the period, the Gamecocks only shot 39.4%, going 2-of-12 from 3-point.
• South Carolina out-rebounded the Razorbacks 24-16 in the second half.
• Collin Murray-Boyles led South Carolina in the half with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jacobi Wright added 10 points.
• Brazile grabbed five of his seven rebounds in the half.

GAME NOTES:

• For the fifth straight game, Arkansas’ starting lineup was D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Zvonimir Ivisic.
• Arkansas won the opening tip. Arkansas has won the tip 23 times in 32 games.
• Jacobi Wright (USC) scored the game’s first points with a 3-pointer at 18:52. Arkansas’ first points came on a layup from Johnell Davis at 18:29..
• Jonas Aidoo and Billy Richmond III were Arkansas’ first subs.
• Arkansas is 32-31 at the SEC Tourney but is just 6-10 in first round games.
• Arkansas is 12-11 in Bridgestone Arena for the SEC Tournament.
• John Calipari is 25-8 (75.8%) in the SEC Tourney. For his career, Coach Calipari is 59-16 (78.7%) in conference tourneys as head coach.
• Arkansas snapped a three-game losing streak to South Carolina have met on 42 occasions all-time, all coming since the Gamecocks and Razorbacks joined the SEC (1991-92). Arkansas owns a 24-18 advantage in the series but takes a 4-3 lead in games played at the SEC Tournament.
• After a 1-6 January. Arkansas is 8-4 since, going 5-3 in February and is 3-1 in March.
• Arkansas’ 93.8% free throw percentage (15-of-16) is a school record in the SEC Tournament.
• Arkansas only committed 12 fouls (three in the first half and nine in the second), which Is the fewest by Arkansas in an SEC Tournament game.

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X.