Alabama Crimson Tide at Arkansas Razorbacks

Nelson and Youngblood score 15 each and No. 3 Alabama holds off Arkansas 85-81

Mouhamed Dioubate scored 14 and Mark Sears added 11 as the Crimson Tide (20-3, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) won their sixth in a row.

Zvonimir Ivisic scored 27 points, while Adou Thiero added 22 and Johnell Davis chipped in 13 to lead the Razorbacks (14-9, 3-7).

Alabama led by 18 with 6:29 left but Arkansas went on a 13-2 run that helped cut the lead to two with less than a minute to play. But Nelson hit a 3-pointer to restore the Tide’s two-possession lead.

Ivisic made one of two free throws to make it 83-81, but Youngblood hit a pair of free throws in the final four seconds.

Takeaways Alabama may have stumbled in the waning minutes, but its balance and overall showing was more than enough to support the team’s place in the top five. With losses Saturday by No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Duke, Alabama's road to the top is clear.

Arkansas had beaten Kentucky, coach John Calipari’s previous team, and Texas, the Razorbacks’ oldest rival, to claw onto the NCAA Tournament bubble before Saturday’s loss.

Key stat Alabama simply made shots at a higher clip, 55% to Arkansas’ 43%. The Tide also got 31 bench points to the Razorbacks’ 11.

Up next Alabama travels to Texas on Tuesday night.

Arkansas hosts LSU on Wednesday night.

How can I watch Alabama vs. Arkansas?

• TV Channel: Alabama at Arkansas 2021 College Basketball, week 14, is broadcasted on ESPN.
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