FAYETTEVILLE – Wade Taylor IV, who scored 41 points, hit a 3-pointer with 7.8 seconds left to give Texas A&M its only lead in the game, 77-76. But, after an Aggie timeout, Tramon Mark took the inbounds pass, drove to SEC logo in the lane, pulled up and sank a jumper with 1.1 seconds left for a 78-77 Razorback victory Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Mark’s game-winner gave him a career-high 35 points, bettering his 34-point performance versus North Carolina earlier this season at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Mark was 8-of-15 from the field (2-of-3 from 3-point) and had career highs in free throws made (17) and attempts (22). He added five rebounds and tied his career-high with three blocked shots.
Arkansas was up 20 in the first half and led by 14 at halftime. Texas A&M steadily worked the deficit down to three (60-57). From that point, Arkansas had some big plays to keep the lead.
First, El Ellis made a layup and assisted on a Mark 3-pointer to put the Hogs up eight (65-57). Second, Davonte Davis came up with an offensive rebound. It was the only time a Razorback was credited with an offensive rebound in the game (the team finished with three total thanks to two team rebounds). On the play, Davis tapped the ball out to over midcourt and Ellis corralled. Ells then found Davis for a 3-pointer to put Arkansas up 10 (70-60) with 6:03 left.
The Aggies kept cutting into their deficit and were down four (74-70) with 1:25 remaining. Jace Carter made two free throws and Taylor sank a driving layup with 50 ticks left to tie the game. Mark would go 1-of-2 at the line to put Arkansas back in front by one. Arkansas got a stop on the ensuing possession and Mark once again went 1-of-2 at the line for a two-point cushion (76-74).
That set-up Taylor’s off-balance 3-pointer from the top of the key for a one-point Aggie lead. Then, Texas A&M only held that lead for six seconds – its only time leading in the game – before Mark’s game-winner.
In addition to Mark, Ellis scored 15 points, going 8-of-8 from the line, and he tied his career-high with six rebounds. Davis added six boards while Travon Brazile and Chandler Lawson each had five rebounds.
Taylor did score a career-high 41 points but took 32 shots to do so. He was 13-of-32 from the field overall (5-of-14 from 3-point) and was 10-of-13 at the line. No other player from A&M scored more than 10 points.
Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena on Saturday (Jan. 20)when the Razorbacks host South Carolina. Tipoff is set for Noon (CT) and the game will be televised on SEC Network.