#20 Hogs Roll #6 Tide, Win 8th Straight SEC Game

Razorback Communications February 24, 2021

FAYETTEVILLE – Jaylin Williams sparked a 17-2 run early in the second half to lead #20 Arkansas to an 81-66 victory over #6 Alabama Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks have won eight straight SEC games and improve to 18-5 overall and 10-4 in the SEC to take sole possession of second place in the league. It is the best conference win streak by the Hogs since winning 11 straight to close the 1993-94 season. The Crimson Tide falls to 18-6, 13-2 overall.

Arkansas took a one-point lead, 39-38, into the locker room at halftime. The Crimson Tide, who finished the first half hot, scored the first seven points of the second half. However, Williams scored six straight to end the drought to put Arkansas up one. John Petty Jr., answered with a jumper to put the Tide back in the lead. Williams then made 2-of-3 free throws to put the Hogs back in front, 48-47, and Arkansas held the advantage the rest of the game.

After the initial 7-0 run by Alabama to start the second half, Arkansas went on a 17-2 run, including a 10-0 spurt, to regain the advantage.

Williams, who was an impressive +30 in his 22 minutes played, scored 12 of his 13 points in the second half and he pulled down all eight of his rebounds in the period. Justin Smith also played a big part in the keeping stemming the Tide in the second half. The graduate senior scored 11 of his 12 points in the second half and had seven of his 12 rebounds in the frame. Smith finished with his third double-double of the year and seventh of his career.

Moses Moody finished with a game-high 24 points, making 16-of-19 at the free throw line, with a career-high four assists and a career-high three blocked shots. The 16 makes at the free throw line ties Tommy Boyer for sixth-most made by a Razorback in a game – and is third-most by a Hog in an SEC game. The 19 attempts tie for seventh-most by a Razorback in a game – 3rd most by a Hog in an SEC game.

Jalen Tate had 12 points, four assists and a career-high four blocked shots. JD Notae scored 12 with three assists and two steals.

Jordan Bruner led Alabama with 14 points, making 4-of-9 from 3-point range, while Jahvon Quinerly contributed 13 and Petty 12.

Arkansas stays at home to host LSU on Saturday (Feb. 27). Tipoff is set for 1:00 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 39 – Alabama 38

Davonte Davis opened the game with a jumper and converted an old-fashion 3-point play at 15:20 to give Arkansas a 9-6 lead at the first media timeout.
Arkansas used an 11-0 run to lead 15-6 at 13:19.
The Hogs led 21-11 at the second media timeout (10:28) as they made 6-of-8 field goals while holding Alabama to 2-of-10. Alabama missed its first nine 3-pointers until making one at 9:54.
Alabama made 7 of its last 8 3’s to cut its deficit to one, 39-38, at halftime
Jalen Tate led the Hogs with 12 first half points and Moses Moody added 10. Tate also had three blocked shots.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 42 – Alabama 28

Alabama scored the first seven points of the half to lead 45-39 and force an Arkansas timeout.
Jaylin Williams ended the drought with three straight baskets to put the Hogs up 46-45.
Thanks to 10 early points in the second half by Jaylin Williams, Arkansas used a 17-2 run (including a 10-0 run) to lead 56-47.
Arkansas had its largest lead of 16 points (70-54) with 5:22 left after a JD Notae 3-pointer.

GAME NOTES

The game was the first top 25 match-up in Bud Walton Arena since then #16 Arkansas defeated then #13 South Carolina, Feb. 18, 1998.
Arkansas is now 398-144 when the Razorbacks are ranked. Arkansas is 100-154 when facing a ranked team.
This was Arkansas’ first win over a team ranked #6 since beating then #6 Kentucky on Feb. 20, 1999.
Arkansas is 18-5 when ranked #20 in the nation. Arkansas is 6-11 when playing an opponent ranked #6.
This is the first time Arkansas has beaten two top 10 teams in the nation in the same season since the 2008-09 season, taking down #4 Oklahoma, 96-88, on Dec. 20, 2008, and #7 Texas, 67-61, on Jan. 6, 2009.
The last time Arkansas beat two top 10 programs in the same month was Feb. 2006 versus #10 Florida, 85-81, on Feb. 18, 2006, and #10 Tennessee, 73-69, on Feb. 25, 2006.
The 15-point win over a top 10 program is the fifth-largest margin of victory by the Razorbacks all time. (HogStats.com). The top four margins of victory vs top 10 include: +27 vs. #8 Alabama (1/6/2007), +17 at #8 Kentucky (1/25/92), +16 vs #2 Auburn (2/24/1999).
Including the two wins this season over top 10 opponents, the Razorbacks’ are just 13-32 versus top 10 opponents since 2000 – including three wins (two this year) since 2010.
Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jalen Tate (G) – Davonte Davis (G) – Moses Moody (G) – Justin Smith (F) – Connor Vanover (F) for the fifth consecutive game.
Arkansas won the opening tip. Arkansas is 11-2 when controlling the tip.
Davone Davis scored the game’s first points, a jumper at the free throw line at 19:33. Arkansas is 13-3 when scoring first.
Jaylin Williams was the first sub for Arkansas.
Arkansas is 36-29 all-time versus Alabama and 20-6 versus the Crimson Tide in Fayetteville. Arkansas has won 8 of the last 10 in the series.
Moses Moody and Justin Smith played all 20 minutes of the second half. It was the ninth time Moody played all 20 minutes of a period and Smith has done so four times. Overall, Moody played a season-high 39:16.
Moses Moody led the team in scoring for the eighth time this season. His 24 points are his sixth to eclipse 20 this season, including four in SEC games. He made a season-high 16-of-19 from the free throw line. The 16 makes ties Tommy Boyer for 6th-most FT made by a Razorback in a game – and is 3rd-most by a Hog in an SEC game. The 19 attempts tie for 7th-most by a Razorback in a game – 3rd most by a Hog in an SEC game.
Moses Moody added season highs in assists (4) and blocked shots (3).
Arkansas has scored at least 40 points in a half 23 times in 23 games this season.
15 of Arkansas’ 18 wins this season have been by double digits.
Jaylin Williams scored a career-high 12 points. His previous high was nine points (versus Mississippi Valley State in the season opener) and his best in an SEC game was eight in a loss to Missouri on Jan. 2, 2021. He had only scored 17 points in the last seven games combined.

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