Razorbacks drop SEC road game to No. 15 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Arkansas scored a season-high 102 points and Khalif Battle, who had 34 points, became just the second Razorback to score at least 30 points in three straight games. However, No. 15 Kentucky scored 111 points and, like the previous meeting, had a late run to get the win 111-102 Saturday at Rupp Arena.

Arkansas had an 8-0 run midway through the second half to lead 74-72. The Razorbacks (14-15 overall, 5-11 in Southeastern Conference play) pushed the lead to nine twice, the second being 86-77 with 8:42 left after a Tramon Mark lay-up.

Kentucky worked the deficit down and led by one at 91-90 with 5:23 left. Jeremiah Davenport answered with two free throws to give Arkansas a 93-92 advantage. From that point, Kentucky went on a 7-0 run and never surrendered the lead.

Both teams made 34 field goals but Kentucky was 34-of-42 at the line compared to Arkansas being 27of-28.

Battle was 17-of-18 at the line in scoring his 34 points. The 17 makes ties Mark and two others for fifth-most in school history and second-most in an SEC game. The 18 attempts ties for 10th-most all-time and fifth-most in an SEC game. Battle also had a season-high eight rebounds. Mark pumped in 23 points with three assists and four steals.

Makhi Mitchell was 5-of-5 at the line and scored 13 points while Jeremiah Davenport scored 14 points with five rebounds.

Kentucky used a 15-3 run inside the final 3:30, including a 10-0 spurt, that led to a 53-48 halftime lead. Mark scored 15 in the first half and Battle, who had six rebounds, added 13. Antonio Reeves had 14 points to lead Kentucky.

Reeves led UK with 22 points and D.J. Wagner had 19 as a total of seven Wildcats (21-8, 11-5) scored in double figures.

The Razorbacks will return home tonight at 6 p.m. to welcome Louisiana State University to Bud Walton Fieldhouse.