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Arkansas basketball had the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament within reach.
A twisting push shot from D.J. Wagner gave the No. 9 Razorbacks an 80-77 lead over No. 8 Ole Miss with 29.6 seconds remaining. Overtime felt like the worst-case scenario for Arkansas in Thursday's second round.
Instead, a comedy of errors doomed coach John Calipari and the Razorbacks (20-13). The Rebels (22-10) scored the game's final six points, and Sean Pedulla hit a game-winning triple with 1.3 seconds on the clock to secure an 83-80 win and a date with No. 1 Auburn on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee.
"I thought we were winning that game. I'm still a little stunned that we didn't," Calipari said.
More: Razorbacks overcome ugly finish to knock off South Carolina in first round
More: How much does John Calipari make? Arkansas basketball coach's pay sits atop SEC rivals
Trevon Brazile hit clutch shots as Arkansas erased a 15-point deficit and played brilliantly with 15 points and 11 rebounds, but he was the culprit for a pair of late-game blunders.
First, Brazile fouled Dre Davis on a put-back layup after Wagner's bucket. Ole Miss didn't have to attempt a 3-pointer to tie the game, and the scoreboard read 80-80 with 20 seconds left after Davis converted his and-one free throw.
Arkansas didn't have any timeouts, so Calipari could not draw up a final play or provide any last-possession instructions. Instead of holding for the final shot, Johnell Davis attacked the basket far-too early. He found Billy Richmond, who missed a layup that turned into a loose-ball foul on Ole Miss' Malik Dia. Brazile got shoved in the back, and he stepped to the free-throw line for two shots.
Brazile missed them both, and that set the stage for Pedulla to become the hero. Even if Brazile had made the two free throws, a Pedulla 3-pointer would have still ended the Hogs SEC Tournament run.
But Pedulla never should have had the chance to end the game in regulation. Arkansas broke one of basketball's most well-known rules, failing to take the game's final attempt at the basket in a tie game with the shot clock turned off.
The miserable finish spoiled a valiant comeback bid from Arkansas. The Rebels led 42-27 just before halftime, but Arkansas rallied and built an eight-point lead with 9:35 remaining.
Both teams went on runs from there, and the Hogs had to again rally after they fell behind 75-69.
Jonas Aidoo was vital in the comeback and finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, but he fouled out and didn't play the final four minutes. Arkansas missed his presence inside.
"Honestly, when I'm on the court, I don't think I'm fouling. I've been doing the same thing for the past four years I've been in this league," Aidoo said.
Richmond logged a career-high with 15 points, while fellow freshman Karter Knox had 14.
In the end, it wasn't enough. In addition to the late-game errors, Arkansas committed 15 turnovers and missed 11 free throws. Dia was unstoppable in the first half and finished with 19 points.
Those mistakes ensured Ole Miss' survival, and now Arkansas shifts its focus toward the NCAA Tournament. The Hogs need to get Zvonimir Ivisic healthy after the 7-foot-2 big only played eight minutes while battling a right thumb injury.
National bracketology experts believe it's a foregone conclusion the Razorbacks will hear their names called on Selection Sunday. Calipari doesn't want to get ahead of himself.
"For us to advance in the next tournament, (Ivisic) has to be on this team playing," Calipari said. "I shouldn't say that because we don't even know if we're in. So, hopefully we're in."
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Late-game miscues doom John Calipari, Arkansas basketball in loss to Ole Miss
Continue reading...
A twisting push shot from D.J. Wagner gave the No. 9 Razorbacks an 80-77 lead over No. 8 Ole Miss with 29.6 seconds remaining. Overtime felt like the worst-case scenario for Arkansas in Thursday's second round.
Instead, a comedy of errors doomed coach John Calipari and the Razorbacks (20-13). The Rebels (22-10) scored the game's final six points, and Sean Pedulla hit a game-winning triple with 1.3 seconds on the clock to secure an 83-80 win and a date with No. 1 Auburn on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee.
"I thought we were winning that game. I'm still a little stunned that we didn't," Calipari said.
More: Razorbacks overcome ugly finish to knock off South Carolina in first round
More: How much does John Calipari make? Arkansas basketball coach's pay sits atop SEC rivals
Trevon Brazile hit clutch shots as Arkansas erased a 15-point deficit and played brilliantly with 15 points and 11 rebounds, but he was the culprit for a pair of late-game blunders.
First, Brazile fouled Dre Davis on a put-back layup after Wagner's bucket. Ole Miss didn't have to attempt a 3-pointer to tie the game, and the scoreboard read 80-80 with 20 seconds left after Davis converted his and-one free throw.
Arkansas didn't have any timeouts, so Calipari could not draw up a final play or provide any last-possession instructions. Instead of holding for the final shot, Johnell Davis attacked the basket far-too early. He found Billy Richmond, who missed a layup that turned into a loose-ball foul on Ole Miss' Malik Dia. Brazile got shoved in the back, and he stepped to the free-throw line for two shots.
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Brazile missed them both, and that set the stage for Pedulla to become the hero. Even if Brazile had made the two free throws, a Pedulla 3-pointer would have still ended the Hogs SEC Tournament run.
But Pedulla never should have had the chance to end the game in regulation. Arkansas broke one of basketball's most well-known rules, failing to take the game's final attempt at the basket in a tie game with the shot clock turned off.
The miserable finish spoiled a valiant comeback bid from Arkansas. The Rebels led 42-27 just before halftime, but Arkansas rallied and built an eight-point lead with 9:35 remaining.
You must be registered for see images
Both teams went on runs from there, and the Hogs had to again rally after they fell behind 75-69.
Jonas Aidoo was vital in the comeback and finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, but he fouled out and didn't play the final four minutes. Arkansas missed his presence inside.
"Honestly, when I'm on the court, I don't think I'm fouling. I've been doing the same thing for the past four years I've been in this league," Aidoo said.
Richmond logged a career-high with 15 points, while fellow freshman Karter Knox had 14.
In the end, it wasn't enough. In addition to the late-game errors, Arkansas committed 15 turnovers and missed 11 free throws. Dia was unstoppable in the first half and finished with 19 points.
Those mistakes ensured Ole Miss' survival, and now Arkansas shifts its focus toward the NCAA Tournament. The Hogs need to get Zvonimir Ivisic healthy after the 7-foot-2 big only played eight minutes while battling a right thumb injury.
National bracketology experts believe it's a foregone conclusion the Razorbacks will hear their names called on Selection Sunday. Calipari doesn't want to get ahead of himself.
"For us to advance in the next tournament, (Ivisic) has to be on this team playing," Calipari said. "I shouldn't say that because we don't even know if we're in. So, hopefully we're in."
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Late-game miscues doom John Calipari, Arkansas basketball in loss to Ole Miss
Continue reading...
