5 Observations: Arkansas 76, Alabama 73

Arkansas forward Trey Thompson Barford (1) grabs a rebound in front of Alabama forward Daniel Giddens (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP)

Jones’ homecoming

It's been well-documented that Arkansas takes a different form - and for the better - when C.J. Jones is knocking down shots and contributing.

Jones enjoyed every bit of his homecoming against Alabama, scoring 13 points in 18 minutes on 5 of 7 from the floor and a perfect 3 of 3 from deep. He mixed the 3-point shot well with his developing midrange game and kept Alabama defenders off balance.

Midway through the second half he shot-faked a Crimson Tide defender into the floor seats and smoothly canned a 17-footer. C.J. was fantastic, tying a conference-high in points. Arkansas is now 3-0 in SEC play when Jones reaches double figures.

Jones had not made a single shot from distance in 6 of Arkansas' last 7 games coming in, so Mike Anderson has to love the production in a game Arkansas needed to solidify its place in the NCAA Tournament.

Bailey a factor in return

The return of Arkansas' springy sophomore couldn't have come at a better time.

Bailey scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the win, and overcame a difficult start that saw him a bit out of sync, which is completely understandable given he had played just two minutes since Arkansas' win over South Carolina on Feb. 6.

He scored all seven of his points consecutively to erase a four-point deficit and give Arkansas a 56-53 lead with just more than eight minutes to go. Saturday was Bailey's best scoring effort of the conference season since adding 10 in a loss at Mississippi State.

In fact, Bailey had scored all of seven points in his last eight games played. The sophomore did not play in three of the previous four games coming into Saturday due to a stomach flu that caused him to drop weight.

Bailey contributed greatly to a 22-11 edge in bench points for Arkansas just a few days removed from getting hammered in that area against Kentucky. Adrio was a team-best +7 when on the floor in the win.

Stringing stops together

Arkansas was in serious need of stops on the defensive end after a Braxton Key layup with more than 11 minutes to play. Key's bucket gave the Crimson Tide a 51-49 lead.

The Razorbacks then held Alabama without a make from the floor over the next 7:21 of the game, and by the time Dazon Ingram got a layup to fall with 3:46 to go, Arkansas was up eight and in control.

Arkansas outscored Alabama 16-6 in the time between Alabama buckets. Adrio Bailey went on his personal 7-0 run in that span and Jaylen Barford capped the spurt with an acrobatic layup.

Arkansas also did a solid job of limiting Collin Sexton in the second half. Sexton was 0 of 4 from the floor - all 3-point attempts - until the final minute when he finished a tough layup over Daniel Gafford. Slowing his roll in transition was key in the win.

Thomas vital

When on the floor, Dustin Thomas was great this week. He rebounded like a mad man on Tuesday, tying a career high with 10 against Kentucky, and came up with big buckets and a heads up play late at Alabama.

Thomas, again, found himself in early foul trouble on Saturday and played just three minutes in the first half. After halftime, he led Arkansas in scoring with nine points, delivering a crucial score at the rim and midrange jumper with under three minutes to play as the Crimson Tide's comeback effort began.

And it may not have looked like much at the time, but when Collin Sexton drove to the basket with under a minute to play and Arkansas leading by 3, Thomas made the smart play in fouling Alabama forward Donta Hall before he could get the ball to the rim. Hall proceeded to miss both free throws and the Hogs were able to escape with a big win.

Mike Anderson praised the senior in his postgame interview with Mike Morgan and Dane Bradshaw.

"It was probably one of his finest performances," Anderson said. Indeed it was.

Thomas finished with 11 points on 4 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 4 from the line. He canned a pair of huge free throws in the final minute as well, finding nothing but net on both to give Arkansas a five-point lead with 33 seconds left. Saturday marked Thomas' second double-figure scoring effort of the season and 10th of his career.

Trey Thompson was fantastic as well without even scoring. The senior forward led Arkansas with seven rebounds and dished out five assists, which ties a season high set in the blowout win over UConn in the PK80.

Securing their spot

The Razorbacks grabbed win No. 20 against a dangerous Alabama team and likely secured their place in the Big Dance in the process.

According to ESPN's BPI, Arkansas has a 97 percent chance of making the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons after the win.

Arkansas still has opportunity to pad its tournament resume and better its seeding over the next two weeks against Auburn and Missouri and in the SEC Tournament. A win over Auburn - which fell at Florida Saturday - on Tuesday would give the Razorbacks four home wins over ranked teams and provide a boost to their RPI.

The Razorbacks came into Saturday one of six teams tied for third place in the SEC. Arkansas could play its way into a bye in the SEC Tournament if it exhibits the fight shown in Tuscaloosa over its final two regular season games.