Mason Jones thriving in crunch time

Arkansas and Georgia Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, during play in Bud Walton Arena. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the game.

FAYETTEVILLE — Without his starting point guard and All-SEC forward in the closing moments of Saturday's game at then-No. 19 LSU, Mike Anderson put the ball in the hands of sophomore guard Mason Jones.

Anderson's instructions: Go make a play.

And he did, hitting a floater in the lane with 22 seconds remaining after calmly taking undersized Tigers guard Tremont Waters, one of the SEC's best on-ball defenders (2.5 steals per game in SEC play), off the dribble.

In the Razorbacks' timeout one possession prior to Jones' game-winner, Jones told his teammates he wanted to take the big shot. On a team that has appeared lost at times in late-game situations, Jones is becoming the primary perimeter option in key moments, and his numbers back it up.

Jones' late score at LSU made him 15-of-29 from the floor in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime this season. He is also 8-of-20 from 3-point range and 25-of-31 (81 percent) at the free throw line. Monday, Anderson explained the thought process behind giving the keys of the offense to Jones in the final moments.

"He had been scoring and I thought we had the floor spaced out and you’ve got to have somebody make a play, so why not get the floor spread and the play may be for him to get to the hole or find the right guy at the basket, or get fouled," said Anderson, who is 8-3 at Arkansas in games decided by one point. "The thing that I like is he’s a good free throw shooter and you want the ball in the guy’s hands who can make plays.

"(Jalen) Harris wasn’t out there, so the next logical choice is Mason, so he’s learning in that particular game because there have been games where we had the same scenario when we didn’t make the play. We were fortunate to make the play."

In eight conference games this season, Jones has been terrific in crunch time, making 9 of 16 shots (56.3 percent) and 5 of 11 (45.5 percent) from 3-point range. He is 7 of 8 at the line in that timeframe as well with his only miss coming against Georgia with the Razorbacks leading 69-60 and the game already decided.

"I knew I wanted the ball at the end," Jones said Saturday. "I knew I wanted to take us home, so I did what I had to do. I knew (Waters) was going to try to pressure me, so I hit him with a head nod and he took it, then he came and I got an easy layup."

Saturday was not the first time Jones had been vocal about requesting the big shot. In the 57-51 loss to Florida on Jan. 9 in which Jones scored a career-high 30 points, the sophomore was adamant about getting the potential game-winner entering a timeout with 33 seconds to play and the Razorbacks trailing 53-51. Out of the timeout, Jones ran off a downscreen from Adrio Bailey and missed a contested runner in the lane.

That night, though, Jones had the hot hand and giving him the opportunity to tie the game or take the lead was largely a no-brainer. Saturday at LSU, it didn't seem as if the situation was as crystal clear. Jones had scored just eight points on 2-of-7 from the floor and his last bucket came at the 16:06 mark in the second half.

But, with Harris and Gafford both fouled out and a handful of freshmen on the floor, having Jones create for himself or his teammates was an easy call for Anderson.

"I think time and situation and what the defense is giving you, that’s all, and you make a decision from that," Anderson added. "He has the confidence without a doubt and he had played well. I thought he played well throughout the game and had been playing well, so he’s confident and, as I said, the key is to make a play."

On top of Jones' impressive late-game shooting figures, he's also been a willing passer. He's handed out seven assists against just two turnovers in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime in SEC play.

"Whether you make a shot or get somebody a layup or get fouled, that’s what you want (in that spot)," Anderson said.