No. 1 Auburn survives tough battle with visiting Arkansas

Johni Broome recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds to help top-ranked Auburn post a 67-60 victory over visiting Arkansas on Wednesday night in Southeastern Conference play.

Chad Baker-Mazara scored 15 points and Chaney Johnson added 14 as the Tigers (24-2, 12-1 SEC) won their third consecutive game.

Adou Thiero scored 16 points and Johnell Davis had 14 points and three steals for the Razorbacks (15-11, 4-9), who lost for the third time in the past four games. Karter Knox and D.J. Wagner added 11 points apiece for Arkansas.

Auburn held a 42-29 rebounding advantage while shooting 40.3 percent from the field, including a lowly 4 of 24 from 3-point range. Miles Kelly added seven points, eight rebounds and four steals for the Tigers.

The Razorbacks connected on 45.5 percent of their shots and were just 3 of 19 from behind the arc.

Arkansas took its only lead of the second half on a layup by Davis for a 58-57 edge with 3:06 left.

Baker-Mazara's layup and Broome's tip-in gave the Tigers a three-point lead with 1:53 remaining. Baker-Mazara sank two free throws to make it 63-58 with 1:15 left.

Thiero made two free throws for the Razorbacks with 1:01 remaining, but Auburn again made it a five-point lead on two free throws by Baker-Mazara with 32 seconds left. Denver Jones put the game away while sinking two of his own with 13.1 seconds remaining.

Arkansas used an 8-0 burst early in the second half to knot the score at 37. Knox scored five of the points.

The Tigers scored the next six points -- four by Broome -- and later stretched the lead to 49-41 on Johnson's dunk with 9:42 remaining in the game.

Johnson converted a three-point play to push the lead to 54-45 with 6:29 left in the contest.

The Razorbacks answered by scoring eight of the next nine points. Davis scored the final four, including making a steal and driving in for a dunk to pull Arkansas within 55-53 with 5:07 to go.

Broome had eight points and seven rebounds in the first half as Auburn led 33-27 at the break.

The Razorbacks led 21-17 after a 3-pointer by Thiero with 6:43 left in the half.

Broome then scored six points during an 11-0 burst. He hit two free throws to end the run and give the Tigers a 28-21 advantage with 3:50 remaining.

--Field Level Media