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Arkansas will begin its’ 30th season in the SEC this fall. It is hard to believe that is has been that long. At Arkansas Fight, we are starting a series looking back at Arkansas basketball since entering the SEC. Each week, we will take a look at each SEC team and their history with Arkansas. We’ll dive in to the biggest games and outstanding performances. Next up is Georgia.
Arkansas All-Time Record versus Georgia: 23-16
Home: 11-3 Away: 6-10 Neutral: 6-3
Biggest And Best Games Of The Series
March 14, 2015 – SEC Tournament Semifinals
Georgia 49 vs. Arkansas 60
It wasn’t a pretty game as both teams shot a combined 35.2% from the field and made just 8 threes in 25 attempts. That doesn’t change that fact that this was the SEC Tournament semifinals. Arkansas was continuing to bolster its’ resume and Georgia was on the bubble. The Arkansas defense was impressive in this one as four Georgia starters shot a combined 3-20. The Hogs won the rebounding battle and kept their turnovers to 11 to hold on to a 11-point win. Michael Qualls led the team with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
March 16, 2008 – SEC Tournament Championship
Georgia 66 vs. Arkansas 57
Arkansas and Georgia both made historic runs in this SEC Tournament. A storm damaged the Georgia Dome that forced Georgia to play 2 games in the same day and moved the tournament to Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs were well outside the NCAA Tournament picture. They finished last in the SEC East and had a losing record going into the tournament. Arkansas had made a run of their own by upsetting #4 Tennessee at the buzzer. This should have been Arkansas 2nd SEC Tournament Championship, but the Hogs just didn’t bring it. Arkansas shot just 2 for 17 from three. Georgia was the Cinderella story and earned a NCAA bid. This one still stings me to this day.
January 23, 2018 – Double Overtime Thriller
Arkansas 80 @ Georgia 77 2OT
An instant classic! In the final seconds, Trey Thompson blocked Yante Maten from behind in what would have been a go-ahead layup for Georgia. It was the biggest play of Thompson’s career. Maten was unstoppable that night as he got to free throw line 16 times. Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon combined for 49 points.
March 1, 2009 – 1994 Championship Reunion Game
Georgia 67 @ Arkansas 89
The day Nolan Richardson returned. The program began to heal at this moment. It was the 15thanniversary of the National Championship season. The team and Nolan returned to celebrate. Arkansas and Georgia were both bad basketball teams that year, but it was about the big picture. The Hogs did win in a blowout, 89-67. Five different Hogs were in double digits in front of the sold out crowd.
Outstanding Performances
Corliss Williamson – March 11, 1994
The #1 Razorbacks were facing Georgia in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Hogs won by 12 behind Williamson’s 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Roger Crawford – January 30, 1993
Roger Crawford played 61 career games and scored in double figures just 16 times. In January of 1993, Crawford set his career high and led the team with 25 points on 9 of 13 shooting in the win over the Bulldogs.
Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon – January 23, 2018
I already mentioned this game, but it is impossible not to highlight what Barford and Macon did again. These two were known for some incredible duo performances. Arkansas need every one of the 49 points they scored as no other Hog reached double figures. Macon made 3 after 3 in the overtime periods. This was one of the wilder wins in recent memory.