FAYETTEVILLE -- Texas Tech guard Devaugntah Williams split Arkansas defenders Anton Beard and Moses Kingsley as he knifed to the basket.
But instead of inserting the dagger in another agonizing loss for the Razorbacks, Williams missed a layup with one second left in regulation, and Kingsley came down with the rebound.
"Thank God he missed it," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said.
Given a reprieve, the Razorbacks beat the Red Raiders 75-68 in overtime Saturday at Walton Arena during the Big 12/SEC Challenge before an announced crowd of 13,751.
Arkansas (11-10) outscored Texas Tech 11-4 during the final 2:50 of overtime and took the lead for good 67-64 on Anthlon Bell's three-pointer.
"They played aggressive," Texas Tech forward Zach Smith said of Arkansas pulling away in overtime. "They were more intense on defense.
"We turned the ball over and kind of gave them some easy offense."
Arkansas guards Jabril Durham and Dusty Hannahs each hit 2 of 2 free throws in the final 33 seconds to clinch the victory.
"We had our chances," Red Raiders Coach Tubby Smith said. "We didn't execute and didn't get the stops we needed.
"Mike Anderson and his staff and their team did a great job and made the plays they had to make to get the win."
Hannahs, a junior guard who transferred to Arkansas after playing two seasons at Texas Tech, led the Razorbacks (11-10) with 25 points.
Kingsley, a 6-10 junior forward, had 17 points and 11 rebounds after going scoreless without a rebound in the first half, when he was limited to 12 minutes after drawing two fouls. His rebound basket off a missed three-pointer by Hannahs tied the game at 60-60 with 13 seconds left in regulation.
Tubby Smith called timeout with 9.4 seconds left to set up the final possession. The Red Raiders worked the clock down and got the shot they wanted from Williams, but not the result.
Williams, a senior, was 5 of 7 from the field before that miss and finished with 10 points.
"He missed it -- he missed a layup," Tubby Smith said. "It is what it is. We've had that problem most of the year."
Hannahs watched the final seconds of regulation from the bench.
"It was scary because he split those guys, and it was like an old-fashioned layup was about to happen," Hannahs said. "Thank God for the fans we've got in Bud Walton rocking, because I think that changed the air in the place.
"It definitely was a good feeling going into OT."
The Razorbacks have played in a school record-tying five overtime game this season. They avoided another overtime game with a 74-71 victory over No. 5 Texas A&M on Wednesday night when Aggies guard DJ Hogg missed a three-point shot at the buzzer.
"This team doesn't have a whole lot of margin for error," Anderson said.
Texas Tech overcame an 11-point deficit to move ahead 55-51 with 5:15 left on two free throws by Zach Smith, who led the Red Raiders (12-8) with 19 points.
"We were in a pickle late down five," Hannahs said. "It's a testament to these close games we've had that I think have taught us our lesson how to finish."
The Texas Tech coach's frustration came through loud and clear when he was asked what more the Red Raiders needed to do to win the game.
"I wanted them to do what we tell them to do, like pick the ball up and don't try to dribble it," Smith said. "Like box out and rebound. Guard the three. Like they've been taught. That's what I wanted them to do."
Texas Tech forward Aaron Ross, a junior from Little Rock Parkview, had 14 points and nine rebounds in a career-high 30 minutes off the bench.
Ross and Kingsley were going for a loose ball in overtime when Kingsley controlled it and broke away for a dunk to put the Razorbacks ahead 69-64 with 1:24 left.
Anderson said he was glad to see Kingsley go for the basket rather than hold the ball and give it to a guard.
"His instincts took over," Anderson said. "He got the ball and he had the floor open.
"That was big for him to come up with that and get the crowd going and get our defense energized again."
Kingsley said he didn't think he played good defense on Williams' drive at the end of regulation.
"I was like, 'Please don't go in,' because I was looking right at it," Kingsley said. "Probably Coach would have been mad at me if that ball had went in. I was just so glad it didn't."
Texas Tech jumped out to a 16-4 lead as Arkansas started 4 of 15 from the field.
"I thought we came out with some hangover from the A&M game," Anderson said. "You could just see it. We were totally flat."
Hannahs scored 21 points in the first half to help the Razorbacks take a 29-28 halftime lead. He hit 7 of 10 shots in the half, including 3 of 4 three-pointers.
"They were doing a great job of finding me," Hannahs said of his teammates. "I just kept cutting through on back curls and screens."
Hannahs got more help on offense after halftime. Bell finished with 12 points and Manny Watkins had nine. Durham scored eight points, including six in overtime.
Razorbacks sophomore forward Trey Thompson hit his only shot of the game, but he had 9 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 2 assists.
"We got in overtime and our guys have been in that situation before," Anderson said. "I think it played in our favor because of the experience of going through it."
Sports on 01/31/2016