FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – JD Notae sank two free throws with eight seconds left and the Razorbacks came up with a big stop on the ensuing possession to give #14/15 Arkansas a 77-76 victory over LSU Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
LSU led by four with 1:47 left after an old-fashion, 3-point play by Tari Eason, who led the Tigers with 24 points. Au’Diese Toney answered with a 4-0 run of his own – two free throws and a layup off a Notae assist – to tie the game at 74 with 1:13. Xavier Pinson put LSU back up two, 76-74, with a layup.
Kamani Johnson, playing for the fouled-out Jaylin Williams, got an offensive rebound with 46 seconds to go. On the play, the officials reviewed the play and LSU was called for a flagrant one foul for grabbing Johnson on the rebound. Johnson made 1-of-2 free throws to get the Hogs to within one (76-75).
Arkansas could not capitalize after keeping the ball after the flagrant foul as JD Notae slipped and turned the ball over. LSU had two shots, a 3-pointer and a layup off an offensive rebound, but came up empty each time. Notae grabbed the rebound with 12 seconds left and pushed the ball up the floor. He was fouled with eight seconds left and calmly sank both free throws.
LSU had one final chance and the Razorback defense forced a tough layup by Pinson which came up short. Stanley Umude grabbed the rebound to secure the win.
Umude led the Razorbacks with 23 points. Williams, who fouled out attempting to take his fourth charge of the game with 4:27 left, recorded his sixth straight double-double (and 12th of the season) with 19 points and 10 rebounds while adding two steals and a blocked shot. Toney finished with 18 points (6-of-9 FG and 6-of-6 FT). Notae, who only scored three first-half points and was just 3-of-12 shooting, had 12 points, including a 3-pointer with 10:33 left and making 4-of-4 at the line inside the final five minutes. Notae added seven rebounds and five assists.
Darius Days had 19 points for the Tigers and Pinson, who was 5-of-21 from the field (0-of-7 from 3-point range), had 12 points.
While LSU dominated the backboards, 43-35, Arkansas won the game at the free throw line. The Hogs were 24-of-28 while the Tigers were 18-of-19.
Arkansas concludes the regular season at #13 Tennessee on Saturday (Mar. 5). Tipoff is set for 11 am (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN.
