ATLANTA — Vanderbilt made free throws to stay in the game. Arkansas made them down the stretch and downed the tough Commodores, 81-75.

Vandy made 25 of 34 free throws, but the Razorbacks made 10 of 12 inside the final minute and the best team, for the second time this season, won.

This should put John Pelphrey and the Razorbacks ’ minds at rest about the NCAA Tournament. They deserve to be in, but they don’t need to think that way yet.

More than likely, with Mississippi and Florida losing in the first round of the SEC Tournament, the Hogs were in. But now, with a very quality victory over a well-coached and disciplined Vanderbilt team ranked No. 18 in the nation, the country’s finest football league will get five teams in the Big Dance.

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While any number of Razorbacks made big plays, the turning point of this game might have come with 1: 36 to play and the Hogs’ lead down to 67-64.

Sonny Weems had been called for a rare five-second count, and the Commodores came roaring into the paint like they had most of the game. But when Ross Neltner went up for a shot, Steven Hill tossed it 6 feet away.

Patrick Beverley grabbed the ball and was immediately fouled by Neltner, his fifth of the game. Beverley then made both free throws to start a run of free throws that the Hogs had to have because their final field goal came with 4: 56 to play.

The Razorbacks team that showed up here Friday is the one that can play with anyone on almost any given night. The Hogs played together, and five guys ended up with at least 10 points each.

The Hogs scored 50 points in the paint and got 26 from the bench. Darian Townes had 18 points, as did Gary Ervin, who hit driving layups that also helped put him on the line, where he made 7 of 7.

The Razorbacks are not typically a good free-throw shooting team, but after making only 3 of 7 attempts in the first half they hit 16 of 21 in the second half, and they could not have picked a better time to make the free ones.

They were only 4 of 15 on three-point attempts, and Stefan Welsh had three of the makes.

John Pelphrey has begged his team to rebound better all season, but especially in the past few games, and Friday Arkansas outrebounded Vanderbilt 45-24. The Hogs had 22 offensive rebounds, which they converted into 20 much-needed points.

It might not have been their best two halves of the season, but they were good enough despite a sluggish start on defense.

It would not have been surprising if Pelphrey had kicked out another sign on the scorer’s table during the first half — not just over some ill-advised shots by his Razorbacks, but because of the ones they were giving to Vanderbilt.

Free shots.

The Hogs committed more silly fouls than a second-grade team in its first game.

Oh, there were a couple that were questionable, such as the second one on Hill, who basically was setting a legal screen. (He does seem to be a marked man. Maybe the officials don’t like his haircut. )

But mostly the Hogs were hacking or charging, and Vanderbilt was more than willing to step up to the line and knock down the free throws.

In the first 20 minutes, the Commodores attempted 19 and made 16, so they only trailed the Hogs 40-36 at the break. They were shooting 1-and-1 s with 11: 10 to play, and they committed only six fouls.

They could have been in serious trouble, because in the first 20 minutes they had only nine field goals.

Still, Pelphrey had a good game plan and the Hogs went right at the Commodores in both halves, getting the high-percentage shot more times than not.

The Razorbacks are not a good shooting team, and being in a dome can be a recipe for disaster, but by going inside they created a few more open looks on midrange jumpers.

Mostly, though, the Razorbacks played solid defense, and that resulted in SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster getting only 14 points, and four of those were free throws.

The Hogs brought their “A” game Friday. If they do that again, and play like they still need another victory to get into March Madness, good things could happen.