For about a total of five minutes Sunday in Arkansas' 71-67 overtime victory over Alabama at Bud Walton Arena, it appeared as if Crimson Tide senior guard Mykal Riley was going to have a splendid homecoming.

In a matter of moments, the Pine Bluff native had emerged as the player of the game.

Curling tightly around a screen like a stripe on a candy cane, Riley connected on a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in regulation that tied the score at 60. Twelve members of his family, who were seated next to the Alabama bench, exulted as Riley pumped his fist. After trailing for most of the game, the Crimson Tide had new life. And it was all because of Riley.

" He made a huge one, " Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. " He did a great job of getting open and knocking it down. "

All of a sudden, Alabama seemed capable of stealing a win on the road.

" I thought we had the momentum, " Riley said. " I thought we had a real good chance in overtime. I was feeling real good at that point. "

But not long after he silenced the crowd of 19, ™ with his shot from behind the arc, Riley was sitting on the bench. He had just been assessed his fifth foul after he hacked point guard Gary Ervin during the front end of a pivotal three-point play with 55 seconds left in the overtime period.

" That hurt us, " Gottfried said.

In one quick sequence, the Crimson Tide lost its best shooter and at the same time fell behind, 67-64.

" That's just how it goes in this game, " Riley said. " I guess I should have fouled a little harder and just make sure he didn't get off the shot or whatever. "

On this afternoon, however, it was about the only thing he didn't do right. He made four of six 3-pointers and scored 16 points despite playing only 28 minutes while battling foul trouble.

Riley's steady play helped Alabama overcome a 12-point deficit in the second half. And when it counted, he was there to deliver the basket the Crimson Tide needed to draw even at the end of regulation.

" You knew that was going in, " Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. " It was very deflating when you're at home and a guy makes that kind of shot. It was hard to rejuvenate. "

For Riley, a 6-6, 185-pound guard, the 3-pointer was especially sweet. He had been recruited by Arkansas in 2006, when he was at Panola Junior College in Texas. But Riley, who helped Pine Bluff win a state championship in 2003, said he wasn't offered a scholarship until after he had committed to the Crimson Tide.

As a result, Riley wanted to come back to his home state and leave an impression.

" There was a lot of motivation to come to Arkansas and play well, " Riley said with a smile. " I was just happy I had a chance to shoot that last shot. I had to play smart and I did. "