UA can’t pull away, but is able to survive

For the longest time it seemed like Arkansas was mostly in control, but just couldn’t put Georgia away. It came down to the final seconds and the Razorbacks made just enough free throws to get a 78-75 win.

It was Georgia’s fifth consecutive loss and it kept a streak alive for the Razorbacks that goes back to Feb. 2, 2011, the last time the Bulldogs managed a win at Walton Arena. That one wasn’t settled until the final two seconds when Trey Thompkins scored for a 60-59 win.

Arkansas took the lead with 7:27 to play in the first half on Saturday and kept it until there was just 3:55 to play when Georgia hit a rare three pointer for a 66-65 lead.

The Razorbacks struggled to get shots against the zone Georgia threw at them in the second half. The Hogs hit 14 of 19 from the field in the second but they hit 13 of 20 free throws and 17 of 26 for the game.

The game became a chess match between Eric Musselman and Georgia’s Michael White.

White was using timeouts and different defenses to keep Arkansas from kicking to a clear lead and coasting home.

Musselman was using players, and his feel for who to use and when was uncanny.

Arkansas got 44 points from its bench compared to only 20 for Georgia.

Keyon Menifield, who it was thought would redshirt but cleared NCAA hurdles late, came off the bench to score 15 points. Jalen Graham, often a starter, logged only 14 minutes as a substitute but scored 11.

If there was an MVP, and there wasn’t because it was a team win, it was senior Makhi Mitchell who came in and logged 25 minutes, scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. His defense was also exceptional as he blocked and changed shots at key times.

In the end Arkansas’ perimeter defense was huge.

The Bulldogs make the third most three-pointers in the SEC, but they struggled behind the arc Saturday.

They made just 4 of 18 (22.2%) and they got few open and uncontested looks.

If there was any ‘Devo’ drama with the return of Davonte Davis, who missed the last three games, it went away when he drilled his only shot of the game, a three-pointer, shortly after he entered the game.

The reception he got from the fan base was warm and inviting with loud ovations.

Davis logged 35 minutes in his return, and while he only had 3 points, he had 4 rebounds and 3 assists and his shutdown defense was like he hadn’t missed a day.

Georgia couldn’t have gone colder in the first half if they had been standing barefoot on the arctic circle.

For more than 5 minutes to open the game the Bulldogs didn’t attempt a three. Then suddenly they were in love with shooting beyond the arc and they came away broken hearted 11 times before they finally connected. Georgia got 14 of its first 17 points on layups.

Arkansas took advantage for a 12-1 run and led by as much as seven, but Georgia hit a field goal as the buzzer ended the frigid first half for a 34-29 deficit. It had to feel like more of the same for the Bulldogs who came into the game Saturday on a fourgame losing streak.

The Razorbacks struggled a little on offense in the early going, and by the 10-minute mark Musselman had used 10 different players. Of Arkansas’ 34 first-half points, 21 came from the bench, led Jalen Graham with 10 points.

Besides Georgia not being able to throw it in the ocean at high tide, the Razorback defense gave the Bulldogs enough problems for seven first-half turnovers that they converted into 12 points.

All Arkansas needed to do down the stretch was survive, and it did.