FAYETTEVILLE — It wasn’t Arkansas’ prettiest or most dominating defensive effort of the season, but the Razorbacks managed to get the job done when it mattered.

The Razorbacks surrendered 489 yards of total offense to South Carolina in a 48-36 victory Saturday night at Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium. The defense played well in the first half as Arkansas built a 28-10 lead, then hung on for dear life against a frenetic South Carolina secondhalf comeback attempt.

Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring didn’t want to hear about any struggles by his unit.

“You can take all the stats and stuff in your stocking,” Herring said. “The offense was our best friend [Saturday ]. We didn’t stop them. We didn’t play as well.”

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Herring said at some point in the year the defense will bail out the offense when it struggles. The South Carolina game was a case of the offense covering for the defense.

“That’s why they call it a team sport,” Herring said.

South Carolina scored 26 points in the second half, at one point cutting the Razorbacks ’ lead to six points. Thanks to a successful onside kick, the Gamecocks scored 10 points in the third quarter before Arkansas’ offense took the field.

“We played strong in the first half,” said Arkansas linebacker Weston Dacus, who finished with seven tackles. “We didn’t come out so strong in the second half. A win is a win.”

Arkansas made two big stands in the second half that were sandwiched around Gamecocks scores. The first big stop came after South Carolina had scored on three consecutive third-quarter possessions and had the ball on third down from the Arkansas 2.

The Razorbacks put pressure on South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell and forced two consecutive incompletions.

“That was huge to give the ball back to the offense,” Dacus said. “That was the point everybody took a sigh of relief.”

The relief didn’t last long. In one of the offense’s few misfires, the Razorbacks gave up a safety three plays later to send the defense back on the field.

South Carolina scored on its ensuing possession to cut the score to 42-36 but Arkansas answered with Darren McFadden’s 80-yard touchdown run. The Razorbacks then steadied themselves and forced a threeand-out possession by the Gamecocks.

Arkansas got the ball with 6: 42 left in the game and ran out the clock. The Razorbacks finished with 650 yards of offense, including 323 yards rushing by McFadden.

“We made a big stop at the end, and it was over,” said strong safety Matt Hewitt, who had 12 tackles. “We needed one big stop.”

Dacus said the three-and-out on South Carolina’s last drive was a team effort. Dacus nearly sacked Mitchell to force a bad throw on third-and-9.

“That drive everybody stepped up,” Dacus said. “We got off the field. All we had to do was stop them once or twice.”

Herring said his defense did deliver two times in the second half and said credit should be given to South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier for making adjustments at halftime.

“At some point, all you gurus have to give South Carolina credit,” Herring said. “They whipped our tail on defense. That guy is getting $ 2 million to do that.”

Hewitt might not qualify as a guru, but he was quick to praise the Gamecocks’ offense and Mitchell. Last year, Mitchell passed for 213 yards in the second half against Arkansas and he threw for 290 secondhalf yards against Tennessee last week.

Mitchell finished with 364 yards and two touchdowns passing.

“When they get hot, they keep it going,” Hewitt said.

Fortunately for the Razorbacks, Arkansas was able to stop the Gamecocks twice in the fourth quarter.