TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Anthlon Bell showed no sign of nerves heading to the free-throw line with four seconds remaining and Arkansas leading Alabama by two points late Wednesday.
Bell calmly stroked both free throws, helping Arkansas withstand a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Retin Obasohan to escape with a 62-61 victory before a senior night crowd of 11,533 at Coleman Coliseum.
"I knew they were good," said Bell, who has made 29 consecutive free throws going back nine games. "You like those type of moments. You want to be at the free-throw line in those type of moments, and I just drilled them."
Arkansas (16-14, 9-8 SEC) won its season-high fourth consecutive game and clinched a winning regular season, extending Mike Anderson's streak to 14 seasons as a head coach without a losing record.
"I've said it before, our teams are built for this time of the year," Anderson said. "When people watch our basketball team, we've been 'almost' all year long. So now our guys are starting to figure it out."
Alabama (17-12, 8-9) quickly shaved a 34-27 halftime deficit to 38-37 with 15:12 left in the game, and the teams were not separated by more than three points until Bell's free throws.
"Give Arkansas all the credit," Alabama Coach Avery Johnson said. "If you had told me we'd hold them to three threes and 62 points, I'd have said we'd have scored 70 and won the game."
Obasohan made 10 of 19 shots and scored 32 points, three shy of his career-high. However, he lost the ball out of bounds and missed a driving shot on the Crimson Tide's two possessions before his final three-pointer.
"Obasohan just kind of took over the game," Anderson said. "He had 32 points, but we made him work for it. I think when it mattered most, I thought we did a good job of making him take some tough shots and coming up with those loose rebounds."
Obasohan's three-pointer at the buzzer was Alabama's only points in the final 3:37. The Crimson Tide had missed their five previous shots.
Arkansas guard Dusty Hannahs had given the Razorbacks a 60-58 lead with 17.6 seconds remaining by making one of two free throws.
Obasohan missed a jumper and, after the ball was tipped out to the top of the key, Justin Coleman missed a three-point shot for Alabama before Bell secured the rebound.
Moses Kingsley stuck back a miss from Anton Beard with 1:44 left and was fouled on the play, but he could not convert the three-point play and Arkansas led 59-58.
Coleman missed a three-pointer near the end of the shot clock for Alabama, then Kingsley missed a short shot in heavy traffic at the other end prior to Obasohan's turnover.
Alabama played at its favored slower tempo, but Arkansas kept the lead most of the game with the help of 48.4 percent shooting in the first half and 15 offensive rebounds.
Kingsley led the Razorbacks with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including a variety of jumpers, and had 8 rebounds. Bell scored 17 points and Hannahs added 10.
Shannon Hale added 10 points for Alabama. Other than Obasohan, the Crimson Tide went 10 of 26 from the floor.
Alabama had won six of eight games and was projected by most analysts to make the NCAA Tournament heading into the week.
"It was tough," said the fifth-year senior Obasohan. "You've got to give Arkansas credit. They came in and made plays. We're still in position to do far more than we could have possibly imagined."
Arkansas made 3 of 11 three-point shots, including 0 of 5 in the second half.
The Razorbacks, who had outscored their past four opponents 111-34 off the bench, were outscored 17-11 by the Alabama reserves.
Arkansas' lead in the series is now 31-28, including 25-24 since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season.
Obasohan scored the first six points of the second half, including a three-point play, as the Crimson Tide rallied from a 34-27 halftime deficit.
Alabama forged three ties before taking its first lead since 20-17 on Hale's reverse layup for a 45-43 lead with 10:16 left in the game.
Two free throws from Kingsley and Manny Watkins' short bank shot put Arkansas on top 47-45, but the Crimson Tide had a 7-2 run to go back ahead 52-49. Obasohan hit a 15-foot jumper and Donta Hall had a putback dunk during the surge.
Arkansas committed seven team fouls in the first half before the Crimson Tide were called for their first foul, a reach-in by Jimmie Taylor after Kingsley rebounded a Taylor miss with 6:20 left in the first half.
Alabama's largest first-half lead came at 15-11 at the 12:15 mark after consecutive three-pointers from Arthur Edwards and Hale.
The Razorbacks trailed 20-17 with less than six minutes remaining in the half before going on a shooting binge.
Hannahs tied it with a three-pointer from the left wing, then Keaton Miles sank a 15-footer, Hannahs' made a floater in the lane, and Bell connected on a 13-footer for a 26-20 Arkansas lead at the 3:47 mark.
Alabama closed within 26-25 on an Edwards three-pointer, but the Hogs outscored the hosts 8-2 down the stretch, with Bell sinking a three-pointer and Beard making a double-pump bank shot with 1 second left on the clock for a 34-27 advantage at the break.
Sports on 03/03/2016