FAYETTEVILLE — It had been a rough shooting game for Gary Ervin, but when Arkansas had to score to beat Alabama, he came through.

Ervin, a senior guard, scored six points in a 34-second span in overtime to help the Razorbacks rally for a 71-67 victory against the Crimson Tide on Sunday before 19, ™ fans in Walton Arena.

After Alabama took a 64-62 lead on Mykal Riley’s 16-foot jumper with 1: 46 left in overtime, Ervin responded with a threepoint basket to give Arkansas (13-3, 2-0 SEC ) the lead for good at 65-64 at the 1: 28 mark.

Tide forward Richard Hendrix then missed inside, Razorbacks senior forward Sonny Weems got the rebound and snapped a bounce pass to Ervin, who scored on a layup as he was fouled by Riley. Ervin hit the free throw to make it 68-64 with 54. 6 seconds remaining.

Before hitting those two baskets. Ervin was 2 of 11 from the field, including 1 of 5 on three-pointers.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I stayed confident,” Ervin said. “I had a tough shooting game, but I hit a big shot. It was a relief.” Alabama (11-6, 0-2 ) made it 68-67 on Alonzo Gee’s three-point basket with 37 seconds left.

After Ervin hit 1 of 2 free throws for a 69-67 Arkansas lead, Gee missed a three-pointer and Razorbacks sophomore guard Patrick Beverley grabbed his 13 th rebound of the game and was fouled with 14. 7 seconds left.

Beverley, a 70. 5 percent free throw shooter, missed both attempts, but his second miss went out of bounds off the hands of Alabama forward Demetrius Jemison, giving Arkansas possession.

“The basketball gods gave us a break,” Razorbacks senior forward Charles Thomas said.

Thomas made sure Arkansas held on by hitting two free throws with 11. 3 seconds left for a fourpoint margin.

“We played so hard to get back into the game, get a lead,” said Hendrix, a junior who led Alabama with 17 points and 11 rebounds. “I guess we just didn’t have enough firepower to hold onto it and hang on for a win.

“ A couple of bounces here and there didn’t go our way, and it slipped out of our hands.” Arkansas led 52-41 after Weems hit a 10-foot jump shot with 10: 47 remaining. But the Tide refused to fold and closed regulation by outscoring the Razorbacks 19-8, capped by Riley’s three-pointer with 18. 7 seconds left that tied the score 60-60.

Arkansas had the final possession of regulation, and Jemison blocked Thomas’ shot in the lane with three seconds left, sending the game into overtime.

Alabama appeared to have all the momentum, especially after Riley, a senior from Pine Bluff who finished with 16 points, twice gave the Tide the lead in overtime when Arkansas had never trailed in regulation.

“It’s very deflating at home when you lose a lead like that,” Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey said. “It’s hard to get rejuvenated. We had opportunities to stop playing and not get to the next play, but somehow, we did.

“ It doesn’t mean you’re always going to make the right play, but at least you’ve got a chance.” Weems credited Alabama for its comeback but said the Razorbacks weren’t going to fall apart in overtime.

“We were calm. We didn’t panic,” Weems said. “You’ve got to keep your composure and go to the next play.” “We’re a positive bunch, and the biggest thing is we share the basketball,” Ervin said. “We’ve got a great chemistry right now. We’re a team that’s been though a lot of battles together.” Four seniors combined to score 60 of the Razorbacks ’ points, including a game-high 18 by forward Darian Townes, 17 by Weems, 13 by Thomas and 12 by Ervin.

“They have the experience and talent to be a terrific team, and our guys played them toe-totoe and gave ourselves a chance to win the game,” Alabama Coach Mark Gottfried said. “We hit some big shots at big times. We just probably needed one more shot.” Arkansas got the big shot it needed on Ervin’s three-pointer in overtime.

“He could have hung his head,” Pelphrey said. “So for him to keep playing and step up and make that three, good for him.” “We’ve got our third SEC game coming up. Let’s get focused on that,” Pelphrey said. “I don’t want to put any labels on anybody — Mr. Big Shot.

“ We’re not there yet. [Ervin ] made one basket. There’s a long way to go. We’re happy he did it, and hopefully next game somebody else will do it.

“ We’re happy for him that he kept trying to get to the next play and when his opportunity came, he made it.

“ It certainly was not by design to hold the ball, and he cranks one up from the deep corner.” But it worked for Ervin and the Razorbacks.