Hogs overcome sluggish start to beat Auburn 56-53
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS --01/25/2012-- University of Arkansas guard BJ Young pulls up for a jump shot over Auburn defenders on a fast break during the first half of Wednesday evening's game at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas found a way to remain perfect in Bud Walton Arena and follow up its dramatic win over Michigan.
BJ Young had 11 points as the Razorbacks remained undefeated in Fayetteville with a 56-53 win over Auburn.
The Razorbacks (15-5, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) are now 15-0 in Bud Walton this season, though they did lose a home game in North Little Rock to Houston. It's their best start to open a season since a 15-0 mark at home during the 1997-98 season.
Arkansas struggled throughout against the Tigers and shot just 35 percent (19 of 54), trailing 37-30 before a 17-6 run put it up 47-43. Rickey Scott scored the last five points of the run, and the Razorbacks didn't trail after that.
Ky Madden and Julysses Nobles had 10 points apiece for Arkansas.
Kenny Gabriel led Auburn (12-8, 2-4) with 13 points, while Chris Denson and Frankie Sullivan had 10 each. The Tigers shot 21 of 52 (40 percent) and committed 21 turnovers.
Arkansas led 52-51 in the final minute before Young hit a jumper to increase the lead to three. The freshman followed that shortly after with a one-handed dunk on a breakaway to put the Razorbacks up 56-51.
Auburn closed to within 56-53 after a layup by Josh Wallace with 14.4 seconds left. Mardracus Wade then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw attempt with 7.4 seconds left, giving the Tigers one final shot.
Gabriel's 3-point attempt, however, was off the mark — ending Auburn's two-game winning streak.
Neither team had much life in the first half, combining for nearly double the number of turnovers (24) as field goals (13).
Arkansas, which opened its last game — a win over then-No. 20 Michigan on Saturday — 11 of 11 from the field, hit only two of its first 20 shots against the Tigers and finished the first half 4 of 27 (15 percent). The misses ranged from 3-point attempts (1 of 10) to a missed one-handed dunk by Nobles on a breakaway following a steal.
Auburn, which didn't fare much better in the shooting department, took a 14-10 lead late in the half thanks to a nearly 10-minute stretch without a field goal by the Razorbacks. The Tigers were 9 of 24 (38 percent) from the field in the half and committed 15 turnovers.
Gabriel capped a 7-0 Auburn run with a follow dunk early in the second half to put the Tigers up 37-30. Arkansas answered with a 12-2 run of its own to take a 42-39 after a 3-pointer by Scott.
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