Adou Thiero split a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds left, then scored a layup at the buzzer after rebounding his missed second attempt, giving Arkansas a 68-65 win over visiting Georgia in Fayetteville on Wednesday in Southeastern Conference play.
With the score tied at 63, Thiero’s jumper gave Arkansas a two-point lead with 30.6 seconds left. But Georgia’s Asa Newell knocked down a pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining to tie it back up. Thiero then rebounded D.J. Wagner’s missed layup and was fouled, leading to Thiero’s three points in the final 1.6 seconds.
Thiero led Arkansas (12-7, 1-5) with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Karter Knox added 13 points in the win. The Razorbacks snapped a five-game losing streak despite shooting 31 percent from the field and 13 percent (3-for-23) on 3-pointers. Arkansas made 29 of its 34 free-throw attempts.
Newell led Georgia (14-5, 2-4) with 18 points and eight rebounds, followed by R.J. Godfrey’s 11 points. The Bulldogs have dropped three straight games.
After holding a 38-26 halftime-lead, Georgia pushed its advantage to 15 as Godfrey and Newell each converted three-point plays to put the Bulldogs ahead 46-31 with 16:40 left.
With 12:18 remaining, Somto Cyril’s free throws gave Georgia a 52-41 lead before Arkansas held the Bulldogs without a made field goal until Dakota Leffew’s stepback jumper at the 9:16 mark, which ended the Razorbacks’ 7-0 run.
Newell’s hook shot gave Georgia a 58-55 lead with 6:13 left, but Arkansas scored the game’s next four points, taking its first lead on Knox’s free throws with 4:40 remaining.
After Silas Demary Jr.’s three-point play for Georgia, two more Knox free throws tied the game at 61 with 2:51 left. Godfrey’s layup was then answered by Wagner’s free throws, tying the game again at 63-63 with less than two minutes to play.
After Trevon Brazile’s layup cut Georgia’s early lead to 7-6, Blue Cain’s back-to-back baskets began an 8-0 run for the Bulldogs. Davis followed with four straight points for Arkansas, but Georgia took its largest lead to that point at 23-12 after Demary’s consecutive 3-pointers.
Jonas Aidoo’s layup trimmed Arkansas’ deficit to 27-18 with 5:51 left in the opening half before Newell’s dunk and De’Shayne Montgomery’s free throws extended Georgia’s advantage to 13.
After Newell closed Georgia’s first-half scoring with three free throws, Zvonimir Ivisic connected on Arkansas’ first 3-pointer after 10 misses, cutting the Razorbacks’ halftime-deficit to eight.
–Field Level Media
