Trough Talk: Top 5 Buzzer Beaters in Arkansas Razorback History

Before we get to the list, I wanted to define "buzzer-beater" for this list. The shot had to come within the final 10 seconds of the game and be the deciding points in the game. If the Hogs had to turn around and play of couple of seconds of defense, that’s okay.

5. Jannero Pargo knocks down a 14-foot jumper in overtime to beat #5 Florida 94-92 in Bud Walton Arena (Jan. 26, 2002).

I think Pargo’s performance that night was where the definition of "going ham" came from. He went five of seven from field in overtime including his pull-up 14-footer with 2.7 seconds left to beat the Gators and finish with 35 points. He was 10-16 from the field including seven of eight three-pointers.

4. Michael Qualls’ stick back dunk with 0.2 seconds left in overtime to beat #13 Kentucky 87-85 (Jan. 15, 2014).

This is easily the most electrifying, spectacular, #SCtop10, and whatever else adjective/hashtag combo you want to use. The win keeps Arkansas in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament and dropped John Calipari’s record in Bud Walton Arena to 1-4. Watch it again and see what others had to say about it the ending.
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Michael Qualls' WILD Put-Back Dunk Beats Kentucky in OT #SCtop10 (via ESPN)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I&#39;m told that they had Michael Qualls jump to get the ball down from the scoreboard after the Kentucky player threw it up there.</p>&mdash; Mike Jocko Jacques (@jockosports) <a href="https://twitter.com/jockosports/statuses/423333394064232448">January 15, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I&#39;ve seen dagger jumpers, but it&#39;s not often you see a dagger dunk. Hogs just stabbed the Cats in the heart.</p>&mdash; Jim Rome (@jimrome) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimrome/statuses/423316884625186817">January 15, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Calipari wanted a tech for celebrating? Still shameless.</p>&mdash; Chris Herrington (@HerringtonNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/HerringtonNBA/statuses/423316949125582848">January 15, 2014</a></blockquote>

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3. Steven Hill makes a turnaround jumper with 5.3 seconds left to beat #4 Tennessee 92-91 in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament (March 15, 2008).

"No, Steve! Don’t shoot it! OH MY LORD HE MADE IT!" That was probably the majority of fan reactions as Hill, who had no points in the game before the game winner, took the game into his own hands. This win put Arkansas into the SEC Championship game and locked them into NCAA Tournament. This is the last time the Hogs won a game in the SEC Tournament.

2. Charles Balentine hits a baseline lay-up with three seconds to down undefeated #1 North Carolina 65-64 and Michael Jordan (Feb. 12, 1984).

Jordan did everything he could to keep UNC undefeated, but it wasn’t enough as Arkansas got the win in front of 7,529 fans at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. It looked like Alvin Robertson was going to shoot and at the last second passed it to Balentine who was cutting along the baseline. If you can handle the awfully biased announcing, you can watch it below.

North Carolina at Arkansas 1984 (via George Waddell)

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Arkansas vs. North Carolina 1984 "IT'S GOOD!" (via WARMACHINE2013)

1. U.S. Reed sinks a half-court prayer as time expires to beat defending national champion Louisville 74-73 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (March 14, 1981).

This has remained one of the great buzzer-beaters in NCAA Tournament history, let alone Razorback history. What a dagger.

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ARKANSAS US REED SHOT IN AUSTIN-P (via SHAWN CLYNCH)

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U.S. Reed (Game-winning shot vs Louisville) (via ARHE)

Honorable mentions:

Clint McDaniel at LSU (Feb. 22, 1995)

Corliss Williamson at Tulsa (Dec. 23, 1993)

BJ Young vs. Georgia (Feb. 21, 2013)

Did I miss one? Did I completely get it wrong? Let me know in the comment section.