Razorbacks beat Texas in OT to complete sweep of ’Horns

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas led by 12 at halftime and by 12 with 7:14 to go in regulation before Texas rallied to take a one-point lead at 69-68 with 1:11 to go.

However, D.J. Wagner hit a free throw with eight seconds left to force overtime, tied at 69-all.

In the extra stanza, the Razorbacks were 9-of-11 at the free-throw line to defeat the Longhorns 86-81 on Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena and sweep the season series.

Arkansas played the game without an injured Adou Thiero, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. In his absence, Trevon Brazile moved into the starting line-up and had one of his best games of the year with 12 points and eight rebounds while leading the team with a plus-13 in playing an Southeastern Conference career-high 39:44.

Texas cut its deficit by gradually chipping away as the Longhorns’ best scoring run was just 6-0. The first 6-0 run got Texas to within six points at 64-58.

A Tre Johnson 3-pointer trimmed the Texas deficit to three points at 66-63 with 3:42 to play. Karter Knox put the Hogs (17-11 overall, 6-9 in SEC play) up five with a driving lay-up before Johnson led Texas to a second 6-0 run with two free throws, an assist on a Kadin Shedrick basket then a lay-up with 1:11 left to give the Longhorns (16-12, 5-10) the lead.

Wagner was fouled driving to the basket and made the first of two free throws. Johnson’s final lay-up missed and Texas’ attempted putback was after the buzzer and the teams went to overtime.

In the extra frame, Texas scored first and a Johnson 3-pointer. Zvonimir Ivisic answered with a lay-up. Johnson came back with a jumper in the paint and Ivisic once again answered. With 2:38 left in OT, Ivisic made two free throws to put Arkansas up one.

Johnson scored all 12 of Texas’ points in overtime but it was not enough to offset Arkansas going 9-of-11 at the line. Johnell Davis was 4-of-4 at the stripe in overtime, Ivisic was 3-of-4 and Jonas Aidoo sealed the win by making two free throws with seven seconds left.

For the second straight game, all five Razorback starters scored in double figures. Ivisic led the team with 18 points, adding seven rebounds, while Wagner had 16 points, adding five assists. Davis finished with 14 points, going 7-of-8 at the free-throw line, and Brazile and Knox each finished with 12 points.

Johnson led all scorers with 39 points (14-of-28 on field-goal attempts, 7-of-11 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe) to lead Texas. Arthur Kaluma turned in a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Shedrick had 12 points.

Arkansas will hit the road for two games starting at noon Saturday at South Carolina, followed by a 9 p.m. Tuesday road game against Vanderbilt.