Jones' desperation 3 downs Georgia Tech in OT

ATLANTA — Mason Jones knew either he or Isaiah Joe would take the last shot. Even so, he never figured to win the game the way he did.

“I gave the ball to Isaiah,” Jones said. “Isaiah took three dribbles to the left, to the middle. They double-teamed him. He threw it to me. I dribbled three times, stepped back. Backboard. God bless us.”

Jones banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing with one-tenth of a second left in overtime, helping Arkansas stay unbeaten with a 62-61 victory over Georgia Tech on Monday night.

“I definitely did not call backboard,” Jones said with a smile.

Georgia Tech took its first lead since the midway point of the first half on James Banks’ short turnaround jumper with 22.3 seconds remaining, but Arkansas did not call timeout before Jones’ 25-footer sent the Yellow Jackets to their second straight loss.

“We had the lead and we played great defense on that last possession,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said. “The kid hit a prayer.”

Jones scored 24 points and Joe had 13 for Arkansas (6-0), which won its first road game under coach Eric Musselman.

“We didn’t call a timeout for a reason,” Musselman said. “I didn’t want their defense to get set and as long as Isaiah or Mason had the ball in their hands, we were going to take that thing and either make a shot or miss a shot and get out of here with no time on the clock.”

Banks had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Georgia Tech (2-2).

Neither team scored in the extra period before taking their final shots, and the game went to overtime after both teams missed a shot on their last two possessions of regulation. The Jackets tried an in-bound pass and tip for the 6-foot-10 Banks, but the ball bounced off his hands as the buzzer sounded.

Jose Alvarado, Georgia Tech’s starting point guard, was sidelined by an ankle injury for the second time in the last three games. Bubba Parham took Alvarado’s spot and had 10 points, two assists and a game-high six turnovers. Pastner said Alvarado will likely miss the next three games.

Arkansas took a nine-point lead, the biggest of the game, when Jones stole the ball from Parham and hit a free throw with 16:07 remaining. Georgia Tech went on a 12-4 run to pull within one on Evan Cole’s lay-in about four minutes later.

Michael Devoe banked in a shot on the left side and Parham hit two free throws as the Jackets twice tied the game, but they were down by seven at the 5:57 mark when Pastner was called for a technical foul after Jones hit a baseline layup and drew a foul from Devoe. He hit the next three free throws for a five-point possession.

Arkansas forced 23 turnovers and outscored the Jackets 18-11 in points off miscues. Banks turned the ball over three times. Jones and Joe took turns stealing the ball from Parham for fast-break layups as the Razorbacks led by seven.

Arkansas was up 33-30 entering the second half.

“The 23 turnovers just ended up biting us in the rear,” Pastner said. “However, our guys played their tails off. That’s all you can ask for, and they’ve done it every game.”

BIG PICTURE

Arkansas: It wasn’t against a top-flight program, but the victory should give the Razorbacks a boost of confidence despite another off night from Joe, who went 4 for 15 from the field one game after he had five points against South Dakota.

Georgia Tech: Michael Devoe began the night as the ACC’s leading scorer, averaging 26 points per game, but he struggled against Arkansas’ lengthy guards, missing seven of his first nine attempts and finished with 12 points on 4 for 16 shooting.

SERIES

The Razorbacks snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 2-5 against Georgia Tech.

UP NEXT

Arkansas: Hosts Northern Kentucky on Saturday and Austin Peay on Dec. 3.

Georgia Tech: Host Bethune-Cookman on Sunday and Nebraska on Dec. 4.

EARLIER

Arkansas 62, Georgia Tech 61 - FINAL

Mason Jones, with the game clock winding down, launches an almost desperation-type 3 in front of the Arkansas bench and he gets it to go off glass. Razorbacks improve to 6-0 with a thriller on the road. Jones led all scorers with 24 points.

We'll have more from tonight's game later on WholeHogSports.com.

Arkansas 59, Georgia Tech 59 - 1:10 left in OT

After Adrio Bailey came up with a steal, Mason Jones drove to the rim and drew a foul on Michael Devoe. It is his fifth foul. At the free throw line, Jones misses the front end of the 1-and-1. Unbelievable. He has missed three free throws tonight after entering 27 of 27 this season.

Arkansas 59, Georgia Tech 59 - 2:09 left in OT

The teams are a combined 0 for 7 to open the overtime period. First team that scores might win this thing. Mason Jones picked up his fourth foul, pushing off an a Georgia Tech defender on a stepback jumper.

Razorbacks have not hit a shot from the floor in nearly nine minutes.

Arkansas 59, Georgia Tech 59 - End of regulation

The Razorbacks knock away Georgia Tech's long pass into the painted area. We're headed to overtime.

Arkansas missed its final six shots from the floor to end the second half. It does not have a bucket from the field since the 5:57 mark. Someone needs to step up and hit a big shot here.

Arkansas 59, Georgia Tech 59 - 1.4 seconds left

Khalil Moore missed an open jumper from the right short corner with around 15 seconds left, then Jimmy Whitt missed a tough, contested jumper from the free throw line. Georgia Tech has possession. Not sure why Eric Musselman didn't call for time and draw something up on Arkansas' last possession.

Arkansas 57, Georgia Tech 55 - 2:35 left

The Razorbacks have grabbed a late lead behind a big five-point possession that was part of a 7-0 run.

First, Desi Sills got a layup to go after challenging James Banks at the rim. Officials then swallowed their whistles on the other end when it looked like Adrio Bailey fouled Banks at the rim. Mason Jones finished on the other end and, after the layup fell, Josh Pastner was hit with a technical foul.

Jones then hit two free throws to push the Arkansas lead to 56-50, then made the free throw that accompanied the initial layup. Georgia Tech, though, has answered with five straight points from Banks and Michael Devoe.

Jones will be at the line when play resumes. He was fouled under the rim prior the media timeout.

Arkansas 48, Georgia Tech 48 - 8:28 left

Michael Devoe, who has had a tough night shooting the ball, gets a friendly roll on a floater in the lane and ties the game. He has nine points on 3 of 10 from the floor.

The Razorbacks have not scored in the last three minutes, 28 seconds.

Arkansas 48, Georgia Tech 46 - 9:52 left

The Razorbacks have turned the ball over twice since the media timeout. Desi Sills unwisely tried to split defenders, lost the ball and it turned into a dunk on the other end. Reggie Chaney then dribbled the ball off his foot on the ensuing possession.

Five of the Razorbacks' eight turnovers have come in the second half. Arkansas needs to clean that up and not give the Yellow Jackets opportunities for easy points.

Arkansas, at the moment, does not have a single point from its bench. Isaiah Joe has not scored in the opening 10-plus minutes of the second half.

Arkansas 47, Georgia Tech 44 - 11:56 left

The Yellow Jackets aren't going away quietly. An 8-2 Georgia Tech run cut the Razorbacks' lead to just one, but Mason Jones, who has had some sloppy moments tonight, made a big-time move along the baseline, getting a layup to go plus the foul. He'll be at the line when play continues.

After Jones' layup went through, he put his index finger to his lips, quieting the road crowd. Jones now has 13 points tonight, matching Isaiah Joe for the team lead. Adrio Bailey has eight, Desi Sills has seven and Jimmy Whitt has six, four since the break.

The Yellow Jackets are up to 16 turnovers and 2 of 10 from 3-point range. Georgia Tech leads the second-chance points battle 10-0.

Arkansas 43, Georgia Tech 36 - 14:35 left

The Razorbacks are gradually taking control of this game by suffocating the Yellow Jackets defensive and getting some key scores on the other end. Desi Sills has woken up a bit and has five points since the break to lead the team. Adrio Bailey and Jimmy Whitt also have scores this half.

Georgia Tech has begun the second half 3 of 8 from the floor with three more turnovers. The Yellow Jackets have 15 turnovers against just two assists. That's not a good figure, especially in your own building, but it's a result of an Arkansas defense that is committed to getting stops.

Sills picked up his third foul prior to the media timeout. Georgia Tech will be at the line when play resumes.

Arkansas 33, Georgia Tech 30 - Half

Isaiah Joe led all scorers with 13 points 4 of 8 shooting and 3 of 6 from 3-point range in the first half. Mason Jones added 10 points on 4 of 5 from the floor as well.

Georgia Tech shot pretty well - 47.6 percent - but turned the ball over 12 times, and Arkansas turned those miscues into 15 points. Razorbacks are plus-12 in that area, which is huge on the road.

Joe also leads Arkansas with four rebounds and Desi Sills has three, too, to go with a game-high four assists. He has not been able to get his shot going, but he has not lost his aggressive nature. Late in the half, Sills caught a pass on the left block and went directly into the chest of Yellow Jackets big man James Banks, who is one of the nation's top shot blockers. Sills finished.

Adrio Bailey has six points for the Razorbacks in nine minutes.

The big stat from the first half was just five points for Michael Devoe, who entered the night averaging 26 points in three games. He is 2 of 5 from the floor, does not have an assist and turned it over once. Keep an eye on this matchup in the second half. Bubba Parham, starting in place of the injured Jose Alvarado, has eight points to complement Banks' 10.

Arkansas 29, Georgia Tech 22 - 3:46 left first half

The Razorbacks' defense traveled to Atlanta. Arkansas has turned Georgia Tech over 11 times and turned those miscues into 13 points. Isaiah Joe stole a pass following an Adrio Bailey turnover and went coast to coast for a left-handed slam.

Joe has 11 points to lead all scorers and Mason Jones has 10. Bailey has been big of late. He's scored six points on 2 of 3 from the floor. Joe has three rebounds as well, and Jones and Sills have two apiece.

Arkansas 20, Georgia Tech 19 - 7:51 left first half

Georgia Tech went on a 5-0 run to take a lead, but Adrio Bailey has the last four points for the Razorbacks as we hit the under-8 media timeout. Bailey was fouled at the rim and hit both free throws, then Jimmy Whitt found him again near the basket and he finished before James Banks could get a hand on the attempt.

Mason Jones leads Arkansas with eight points on 3 of 4 from the floor. He and Reggie Chaney each have two fouls.

Six assists on seven scores for the Razorbacks, too.

Arkansas 16, Georgia Tech 14 - 11:16 left first half

Isaiah Joe and Mason Jones are a combined 4 of 7 from deep in the opening eight-plus minutes, which is huge. At some point, though, a third scorer may have to emerge to keep the Georgia Tech defense guessing. Joe and Jones have 14 of the early 16 points.

After Arkansas went on an 8-0 run to take a 13-7 lead, the Yellow Jackets answered with seven straight, but the Razorbacks regained the lead at the under-12 media timeout on Joe's second 3.

Georgia Tech is 6 of 11 shooting and 1 of 3 from deep with three turnovers. Banks continues to lead with four points.

Arkansas 8, Georgia Tech 7 - 15:51 left first half

As I mentioned in the pre-game notes, it is going to be important that Isaiah Joe and Mason Jones get in a rhythm offensively. In the opening four-plus minutes of the game they each have a 3 to their credit against Georgia Tech's zone.

Jimmy Whitt has the Razorbacks' other score, a mid-range jumper - go figure. He is 1 of 3 from the floor to this point. Desi Sills, who enters tonight 1 of 22 from 3, has assists on two of Arkansas' three buckets.

Razorbacks doing OK on the defensive end, too. The Yellow Jackets have turned the ball over three times. James Banks has four points to lead Georgia Tech, but he was whistled for an offensive foul to send us to the first media timeout.

Pregame

Arkansas' starting lineup: Isaiah Joe, Mason Jones, Desi Sills, Jimmy Whitt and Adrio Bailey.

No changes in the Arkansas starting lineup tonight. This group has been great defensively, and we'll see if the Razorbacks can again take advantage of a team that isn't stellar on the offensive end. Georgia Tech's offense ranks 100th nationally, according to KenPom, scoring 102.6 points per 100 possessions.

I'm looking for Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe to get going tonight, too. That is a huge key. Those two guys have to make perimeter shots then break down defenses off the bounce and either get to the rim or find others. I also expect Reggie Chaney to step up in this game. He has size that can match up with the Yellow Jackets on the interior.

Georgia Tech's starters: Michael Devoe (6-5), James Banks (6-10), Bubba Parham (5-10), Khalid Moore (6-7) and Moses Wright (6-9).

Devoe is definitely the player to watch for the Yellow Jackets on the offensive end. It won't take long to notice how crafty he is with the ball in his hands. The lefty is averaging 26 points per game this season and is fresh off a 34-point outing at Georgia. He was 7 of 13 inside the arc and 5 of 7 from 3-point range in the four-point loss. He takes a team-high 28.4 percent of Georgia Tech's shots when on the floor.

Banks is the x-factor defensively and an elite shot blocker. A transfer from Texas, Banks blocked five shots in the Yellow Jackets' season-opening win over NC State and six against both Elon and Georgia. His 13.6 percent block rate ranks top 15 in the country, according to KenPom. Opposing teams shoot 34.4 percent on 2-point field goals when he is on the floor versus 50 when he sits, per HoopLens analytics, so finishing at the rim will be a key for Arkansas.

Running updates by Scottie Bordelon of WholeHogSports.com