FAYETTEVILLE — Fourth-ranked Alabama ended Arkansas’ 17-game home winning streak Wednesday.
The Crimson Tide defeated the 15th-ranked Razorbacks 84-69 to record their fifth consecutive victory. Arkansas lost a game at Bud Walton Arena for the first time since a 75-74 loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 4, 2022.
Alabama (14-2, 4-0 SEC) took command with three-pointers on three consecutive possessions late in the game to take a 74-63 lead. Brandon Miller, the SEC’s leading scorer, deflated the raucous home crowd with back-to-back threes that forced an Arkansas timeout with 3:42 remaining.
The Crimson Tide outscored Arkansas 19-6 in the final 4 minutes, 32 seconds.
The Razorbacks (12-4, 1-3) trailed by 12 points midway through the second half, but clawed back to within 65-63 on Jalen Graham’s turnaround with 4:55 remaining. That prompted Alabama coach Nate Oats to take a timeout and the Crimson Tide responded with a 13-0 run.
Noah Clowney buried a three-pointer from the corner with the shot clock winding down to give Alabama a 68-63 lead with 4:32 to play. Miller followed with consecutive treys that quickly followed an Arkansas turnover.
Miller scored 14 points despite not attempting a field goal before halftime. The freshman entered the game leading the SEC with 19.1 points per game.
Mark Sears led Alabama with 26 points and Clowney added 15.
Graham scored 16 points off the bench for the Razorbacks. Davonte Davis also had 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and Ricky Council added 15 points.
Makhi Mitchell scored 10 points for the Razorbacks before fouling out with more than seven minutes remaining.
Alabama limited Arkansas freshman guards Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh to five and two points, respectively. The Razorbacks played their fifth consecutive game without freshman Nick Smith, a projected lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Arkansas made 26 of 61 field goal attempts, but was just 2 of 10 from three-point range and 15 of 23 from the free-throw line.
Alabama made 25 of 54 field goals and 9 of 20 from three-point range. The Crimson Tide led most of the game, in part, due to a great 25-of-36 clip at the free-throw line.
Alabama also capitalized more often on miscues, turning 15 Arkansas turnovers into 24 points. The Razorbacks scored seven points off 13 turnovers.
Wednesday's game was the first of two this season between the Razorbacks and the Crimson Tide, who are scheduled to play again Feb. 25 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Arkansas is scheduled to return to play Saturday at Vanderbilt. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.