Ivisic Scores Career High, but #3 Alabama Holds on for Win

FAYETTEVILLE – Alabama opened the second half on a 20-7 run and led by as many as 18 (75=57) with 6:29 left before Arkansas rallied to get to within three (81-78) with 1:17 left. However, the #3 Crimson Tide held on down the stretch for an 85-81 victory Saturday night in Bud Walton Arena.

Zvonimir Ivisic, who was 5-of-9 from 3-point range, scored a career-high 27 in the loss, while adding seven rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. His previous career high was 19 earlier this year versus Troy and his previous best in an SEC game was scoring 18 points last year versus Alabama.

Down 15 (79-64) with four minutes to play, Arkansas went on a 12-0 run to make the score 79-76.Thiero started the run with a free throw and, even though he missed the second freebie, Ivisic got the rebound and put back. Johnell Davis came up with a steal and sank two free throws. Thiero then made a pair at the line and, after an Ivisic steal, Billy Richmond III threw down a dunk. Ivisic then got a defensive rebound and would hit a 3-pointer on the other end to make it a three-point game.

Mark Sears ended the run with a layup. However, D.J. Wagner made it a three-point game once again by making a pair of free throws. Grant Nelson put the Tide back up five only to see Ivisic answer with a layup with 38 seconds left. Neither team scored over the next 30 seconds. Arkansas had the ball coming out of a timeout. Alabama fouled and, with five seconds left, Ivisic made 1-of-2 free throws to get the Hogs to within two (83-81).

Chris Youngblood made the first of two free throws but Alabama kept the ball as the ball went out of bounds of Arkansas. Youngblood was fouled again with one second left. He missed the first one and made the second to secure the win.

Thiero finished with 22 points and Davis added 13 points.

Nelson and Youngblood each scored 15 points to lead Alabama.

Arkansas stays home to host LSU on Wednesday (Feb. 128). Tipoff is set for 8 pm (CT).

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 34 – Alabama: 40

• Arkansas scored first but missed 10 of its next 11 shots to trail 15-6.
• The Hogs then made 4-of-5 shots to get to within three (22-19).
• Thanks to a pair of Ivisic 3-pointers, Arkansas made 5-of-6 shots and cut its deficit to one, 33-32.
• The Razorbacks went on a 5:53 drought but kept the game close, trailing just 38-32.
• Brazile ended the drought with a put-back dunk with 23 seconds left.
• However, Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate made a basket with two seconds left to provide the 40-34 halftime score.
• Ivisic led Arkansas with 15 points and Adou Thiero had 11. The pair each had two steals.
• D.J. Wagner had five assists and zero turnovers.
• Alabama shot 59.3% compared to 35.1% for Arkansas, but the Crimson Tide had nine turnovers thanks to seven Razorback steals.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 47 – Alabama: 45

• Three Razorbacks scored in double figures while no one from Alabama scored in double figures. Ivisic led the way with 12 points while Thiero and Davis each scored 11.
• Arkansas shot 53.8%. Alabama shot 51.4% but was just 2-of-10 from deep in the second half.
• Arkansas only took (and made) four free throws in the first half but was 14-of-17 at the line in the second half.

GAME NOTES:

• For the third-straight game, Arkansas’ starting lineup was D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic.
• Alabama won the opening tip. It was just the sixth time the opponents have won the tip this season.
• Zvonimir Ivisic scored the game’s first points with a jumper at 19:23.
• Billy Richmond III was Arkansas’ first sub.
• Arkansas has never beaten the #3 team, falling to 0-16 overall and 0-2 in Bud Walton Arena. John Calipari is 3-4 all-time when facing #3.
• Arkansas still leads the all-time series, 36-34, versus Alabama. Alabama holds a 31-29 advantage in the SEC games.
• The series has been dominated by the home team. With the loss, Arkansas fell to 20-8 all-time versus the Tide in Fayetteville while Alabama leads 24-8 in games played in Tuscaloosa.
• Tonight’s home game was just the third time over the last eight games that Arkansas and Alabama have played in Fayetteville.
• Over the last six games, opponents are just 11-of-51 (21.5%) from 3-point range in the second half.
• Ivisic is the only Razorback, going back to 1996-97, to have at least 26 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals.
• D.J. Wagner had nine assists, one shy of tying his career high.

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