FAYETTEVILLE -- Kentucky wouldn't be undefeated if LSU guard Keith Hornsby had hit a last-second three-point attempt against the Wildcats.
He also missed a three-point attempt against Texas A&M that would have sent the game into overtime.
Hornsby never lost faith in himself, but he did feel the need to reassure Tigers Coach Johnny Jones after the loss to Kentucky he could deliver in the clutch.
"I texted Coach," Hornsby said. "I was like, 'One day I'm going to make this shot for you.'"
One day came Saturday in Walton Arena.
Hornsby hit a three-point shot from deep in the corner at the buzzer to lift LSU to an 81-78 victory over No. 18 Arkansas before an announced crowd of 18,966.
Arkansas guard Michael Qualls was providing help defense on Josh Gray, and Qualls rushed back to Hornsby when Gray passed him the ball.
"I saw his long arms lunging for me," Hornsby said.
Qualls said he tipped the ball.
"Who knows? Maybe I gave it the right spin when I tipped it," Qualls said. "He just made a big shot for them."
Hornsby, a junior transfer from North Carolina-Asheville, leads LSU with 67 three-point baskets, but he was 0 of 3 Saturday before his final shot.
"He hadn't made a three-point shot all day long, but that window of opportunity was there," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "You have to give them credit. They made the plays and they made the shots when they needed to.
"Our defense, when it needed to be good, it wasn't as good as it should have been."
It was the first buzzer-beating shot against the Razorbacks in Walton Arena since Georgia's Steve Newman hit a three-point basket for a 67-64 victory Jan. 17, 2007.
Gray, who had 10 points and six assists off the bench, said he had no doubt Hornsby would hit the game-winner.
"I've got the utmost confidence in him," Gray said. "When he threw it up, I went to go hug him because I knew he was going to knock it down."
Jones said he offered Horsby nothing but support after receiving his text.
"I just texted him back that he's a tremendous player and that's why we go to him and we believe and trust in him and have a great deal of confidence in him," Jones said. "I knew where his heart was and told him never put that kind of pressure on yourself, just relax and play the game because we know what he's capable of doing."
Hornsby's shot likely put LSU (22-9, 11-7 SEC) into the NCAA Tournament as the Tigers won at Arkansas without star forward Jordan Mickey, who was sidelined by a shoulder injury.
"It's just one of those moments that I will never forget no matter what happens in my basketball playing career," Hornsby said. "I can always look back at this as one of the best nights and probably the biggest shot that I've ever made in my life. "
Senior forward Alandise Harris hit six consecutive free throws to give Arkansas a 78-75 lead with 1:17 left.
LSU tied it 78-78 on a three-point basket by Jalyn Patterson with 57.8 seconds to play.
Anderson called timeout to set up a play for Bobby Portis, who led the Razorbacks (24-7, 13-4) with 21 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The Tigers had Portis well covered. Harris drove to the basket, but his shot was blocked by Jarell Martin.
"Paying attention to the scouting report, he's one of those guys who likes to take it to the basket and spin," said Martin, who had 27 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. "I saw it coming, so I rotated over and had some perfect timing."
"Alandise went up strong, and Martin made a great block," Anderson said.
Qualls had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Senior guard Ky Madden had 12 points and five assists for Arkansas, and Harris added 12 points.
Patterson hit 6 of 8 three-pointers and had 20 points. Hornsby had 13 points.
"We knew coming into this type of environment that we were going to have to play every second, every play against a great basketball team," Jones said. "That's exactly what it took for us."
Gray said he knew on the final play Arkansas would pack the lane to keep him from driving. He came off a screen and saw Hornsby open in the corner.
"Then I saw his man coming at me," Gray said. "He kind of jabbed at me, and as soon as he did, I threw it."
Hornsby -- the son of Grammy Award-winning singer Bruce Hornsby -- couldn't recall the last time he had hit a game-winning shot.
"It's been awhile," Hornsby said. "I would have to really look back."
Jones smiled.
"He's never done it in a place like this," Jones said.
Hornsby said he's played with Gray enough to read how he's going to react.
"I locked eyes with him and I floated at the right moment," Hornsby said. "He delivered the perfect pass that allowed me to get into my shot naturally.
"I got a great opportunity and I nailed it."
Sports on 03/08/2015