Daniel Gafford Dominated As Hogs Top Tide

If this was Daniel Gafford’s final game in Bud Walton Arena, he sure went out in style. He finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds as the Hogs topped Alabama 82-70. The win puts the Hogs at 17-14 at the end of the regular season. They passed the Tide on the final day of the SEC Standings and will be the 9 seed in the SEC Tourney. They’ll play 8-seed Florida.

The teams traded runs in the first half. Arkansas jumped out to an early lead, but three straight tripled from the Tide gave them a 27-19 lead. Arkansas then took the lead back after Isaiah Joe’s bucket to cap off an 8-0 run. After a couple back and forth baskets a 9-3 run gave the Hogs a 36-31 halftime lead.

Gafford had a double double at halftime with 12 points and 11 boards. Desk Sills hit a couple of shots from deep and had eight points at half.

The lead would slowly grow in the first part of the second half. Arkansas got the first four points and the lead hovered right around double digits.

Alabama cut things to as close as seven points but the Gafford takeover continued. A put back slam put the Hogs up 12 and they didn’t look back. Even though it was Gafford’s night, Isaiah Joe’s four point play was the dagger to put the Hogs up big late.