In a year full of adversity and setbacks, the Arkansas Razorbacks just needed to win a game by any means necessary.
The Razorbacks’ 68-65 victory over Georgia was far from pretty and took over two-and-a-half hours to complete, but Arkansas’ 29 made free throws and a clutch offensive rebound from Adou Thiero sealed John Calipari‘s first SEC victory as the head coach of the Hogs.
On the first of many nights Arkansas will have to face without standout freshman guard Boogie Fland, Thiero stepped up, scoring the final five points for the Razorbacks to cap a 17-point, 11-rebound performance.
Arkansas trailed by 12 at the half, but a barrage of free throws over the final 20 minutes lifted Arkansas back into the game and into the lead.
“We never have given up on a game this year,” Calipari told the SEC Network after the game. “We’ve lost some games, but these kids fight. That tells you we have great kids. The greatest thing is, we fought and we hung around. We may be a grind it out team.”
The Razorbacks will welcome Oklahoma into a rejuvenated Bud Walton Arena on Saturday before Calipari returns to Lexington to face Kentucky.
The victory improves Arkansas’ record to 12-7 overall and 1-5 in SEC play.
There’s still a long way to go before the Hogs make their way back into postseason conversations, but all it takes is one win to get the ball rolling.
Please excuse the Fayetteville faithful for getting a little rowdy on Dickson Street. After a slow start to SEC, Arkansas fans were looking for a reason to celebrate. They finally have one.
