FAYETTEVILLE – Jaylin Williams recorded his fourth-straight, double-double – including a career-high 16 rebounds – and the Razorbacks were 6-of-6 at the foul line inside the final minute to lead #23/24 Arkansas to a 58-48 victory over #16/13 Tennessee Saturday afternoon at Bu Walton Arena.
Arkansas wins its 11th game over the last 12 and improves to 21-6 overall and 10-4 in the SEC. Tennessee falls to 19-7 and 10-4 in the SEC as the Razorbacks and Volunteers are tied for third in the league.
The Razorback defense was smothering, holding the Vols to season lows in points (48), field goal percentage (27.1%), 3-point field goal percentage (16.7%) and assists (5). Also, Arkansas forced 15 turnovers, while committing just 10, and out-scoring UT 13-2 in points off turnovers.
In a game that featured 12 lead changes, Arkansas took a 43-41 lead with 8:05 after a Davonte Davis 3-pointer and never surrendered the lead the rest of the game.
Davis’ triple, as well as a second 3-pointer and an assist, was part of an 11-1 Razorback run (including a 7-0 spurt) to lead 51-42 with 5:17 remaining. The Vols got to within five (51-46) after two free throws with 59 seconds left before the Hogs made 7-of-8 inside the final 58 seconds to seal the win.
Williams had 16 rebounds which is the second-best total by a Razorback in a league game and ties for fourth by a Hog in SEC games as three players had 17. He added 13 points. JD Notae also had 13 to tie for the team lead in scoring. Au’Diese Toney grabbed 10 boards, tying his SEC season-high set in the win over Auburn.
Tennessee was led by Zakai Zeigler with 12 points off the bench while Chandler added 11 points. Santiago Vescovi contributed 11 rebounds.
Arkansas hits the road to play at Florida on Tuesday (Feb. 22). Game time is set for 6:00 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.