TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas ’ Razorbacks and Alabama’s Crimson Tide could have packed pistols and everyone in Coleman Coliseum Wednesday night probably would have been safe.

Because it seems collectively these teams didn’t have a shot to hit anything.

However individually, on a night when so many were so below average, Alabama’s Demetrius Jemison was way above his average and led the lowly Tide to a 59-56 SEC West victory.

Averaging only 4. 4 points and 4. 7 rebounds, Jemison tallied a gamehigh 19 points and game-high 11 rebounds. His last two points on free throws with 9. 6 seconds left assured Sonny Weems ’ putback of a 3-point miss would leave the Hogs 3 points short as time ran out.

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The loss downgrades the Razorbacks (18-9, 7-6 ) from a team on the bubble to a team in deep trouble regarding its NCAA Tournament hopes. Arkansas is now without hope of outright winning the West, trailing Mississippi State by three games with three to play.

Big Dance hopes seem especially dimmed losing to a team that improved only to 15-13, 4-9.

“ I don’t know, ” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey replied to a question if the bubble is bursting. “ But it doesn’t help. ”

It does help the Razorbacks that 14 th-ranked Vanderbilt, Saturday’s 3 p. m. opponent at Walton Arena, beat nationally top-ranked Tennessee last Tuesday night which would garner NCAA Tournament Selection Committee attention if the Hogs prevail.

But even at home, Arkansas can’t hope to beat a high-caliber team Saturday if the Hogs play like this Tuscaloosa tumble.

“ Congratulations to Alabama, ” Pelphrey said. “ But we surely didn’t do much tonight to get in their way. I am disappointed in our effort. At no point have we played that way over a 40-minute period. It’s disappointing and hurtful. Especially at this time of year. ”

The Razorbacks shot dreadfully 22 of 61 from the field including 3 of 21 on treys and hit just 9 of 16 free throws.

However with Alabama, only 13 of 24 on free throws, hitting just 22 of 54 from the field and 2 of 10 on threes, it could be said statistically Arkansas played well defensively.

Not in Pelphrey’s view.

“ We were terrible on both ends of the floor, ” Pelphrey said.

Especially versus Jemison, who outscored Arkansas rotating forwards Charles Thomas, Vincent Hunter and Michael Washington, 19-5.

“ Jemison took it to our three guys, ” Pelphrey said. “ He outplayed them with complete domination. ”

Who was that man wearing Jemison’s No. 23, Alabama star junior forward Richard Hendrix, a doubledouble 12 points and 19 rebounds, was asked ?

“ It may have been Mike, ” Jemison said, referring to Michael Jordan. “ But it was ‘ Meat. ’ He made it count tonight. We know that’s the kind of game we can get from him. ”

Alabama coach Mark Gottfried called Jemison, “ phenomenal. ”

As good as Jemison was, Arkansas had its chances with starting senior center Steven Hill blocking 4 shots and alternating senior center Darian Townes scoring 17 (7 of 10 from the field ) and West Memphis’ Weems scoring 17.

However Patrick Beverley, only 4 points in last Saturday’s loss at Kentucky, scored but 5 Wednesday and shot 2 for 11 from the field.

“ Patrick didn’t have a very good game, ” Pelphrey said. “ The free-throw line was not where it needed to be. The caliber of play was not where it needed to be. ”

Even in the view of Townes, one of the few who played well.

“ We came out to play real hard but Alabama played a little harder than us, ” Townes said. “ We made a lot of mistakes and turnovers. ”

Both teams committed 16 turnovers but Arkansas ’ gaffes seemed to occur at the more crucial times.

Arkansas did have leads in the second half and last was tied at 43-43 on Gary Ervin’s drive at 8: 11.

Alabama ran off a 6-0 run but Hunter’s lone trey cut it to 49-46 at 4: 15.

The Hogs would never be closer than 3 and it got irrevocably worse when Beverley missed a 3 on one end which led to Alabama’s Senario Hillman dunking on the other.

Still, Weems’ tip-in at 11. 7 gave Arkansas one last chance until Jemison iced it.

A dreary 26-23 Alabamaled first half matched the dreary Coleman Coliseum backdrop of empty seats barely more silent than the scattered fans (a liberally announced 9, 164 ) attending.

The half closed with a malfunctioning 35-second shot clock causing both shot clocks to be turned off and the public address announcer announcing shot clock time with 15 seconds left.

“ The shot clock is off, ” the announcer announced with under 35 seconds on the game clock.

“ They’ve been off, ” a fan, easily overheard amid the sounds of silence, said dryly.

The wit could have been referring to the first-half shot clock or the first-half shooters. Or both.

Arkansas was 9 of 30 from the first half field, 1 for 10 on treys and 4 of 9 on free throws.

Alabama only made 12 of 33 from the field, 0 for 6 on treys and sank but 2 of 8 from the first-half line.

The percentages didn’t improve much for either in the second half, but it all felt fine to Alabama.

“ Sometimes when you win, you win ugly, ” Gottfried said. “ Well tonight’s win was beautiful. ”

And to first-year Arkansas coach Pelphrey, it’s either the ugliest or “ close” to the ugliest of this season’s nine defeats.