FAYETTEVILLE -- Michael Qualls went off for a career-high 30 points to help Arkansas outlast Alabama 93-91 in overtime on Thursday at Walton Arena.
Qualls made 10 of 16 shots, including four dunks, and 8 of 12 free throws to become the 12th Arkansas player to score 30 or more points in an SEC game.
"He was the difference," Alabama Coach Anthony Grant said. "He did a great job."
Qualls saved some of his best plays for overtime, scoring eight points. The 6-6 guard had a steal and breakaway dunk with 2:20 left in overtime to put Arkansas ahead 86-84 and his tip-in at 1:28 made it 88-86.
A pair of free throws from Qualls with 18.2 seconds remaining put Arkansas on top 91-88, setting the stage for Shannon Hale's late three-pointer and Bobby Portis' game-winning tip-in.
"They feed me," Qualls said. "Everything is because of the team. When times got tough they look for me so I had to convert.
"It was a big win. I'm not really worried about individual play, but you know, it always feels good."
Crash landings
Arkansas forward Bobby Portis and Alabama forward Michael Kessens each took a heavy fall to the hardwood in the first half, though neither appeared to suffer an injury.
Kessens crashed first, crumpling under a pile of bodies after he missed a driving layup in the early going. He returned and finished with 7 points and 7 rebounds.
Portis came down hard on his back a couple of minutes later after being unintentionally undercut while trying to secure on offensive rebound. Portis made his first two shots prior to the fall, then missed his next three shots in the first half and never hit a jumper the rest of the way. Portis made two tip-ins during the second half, including the game winner at the overtime buzzer, and extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 13 games.
One-hand flush
Michael Qualls added a new dunk to his portfolio in the first half. As Jacorey Williams missed a jumper from the free-throw line, Qualls positioned on the left baseline, rose high over Alabama's Riley Norris and Rodney Cooper and hammered down a one-handed putback to put the Hogs ahead 32-28 and sent a jolt through the crowd.
Three-point binge
Alabama guard Justin Coleman, who came in averaging 4.4 points per game, found a spot from three-point range on the right wing and wore it out in the second half. The 5-10 freshman made 5 of 7 three-pointers and scored a career-high 22 points.
"Yeah, that's my sweet spot," Coleman said.
"Look at the threes he was making," Arkansas' Michael Qualls said. "It was almost unbelievable, little guy out there lighting it up like that. It was his night. He came out, he played real big for Bama."
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson came up to Coleman outside the visitor's tunnel at Walton Arena and rubbed his head and gave him a hug.
"He had it in him," said Anderson, who recruited Coleman, a native of Birmingham, Ala. "He knows. He wanted to show coach. Good job."
Harris time
Alandise Harris, on the floor with a group of Arkansas reserves midway through the second half, took the scoring mantle for a couple of minutes after Anton Beard's three-pointer had given the Razorbacks a 48-45 lead.
Harris made a pair of free throws, a driving layup and another pair of free throws for six consecutive points to give Arkansas a 54-50 lead.
Harris also contributed a key defensive play in that stretch, coming from way down the baseline to swat away a Michael Kessens shot at the rim as backside help.
A word please
Alabama Coach Anthony Grant, who had four players foul out, requested a word with SEC associate commissioner Mark Whitworth, whose focus is men's basketball, after Grant's brief press conference with the media.
Whitworth, who was observing in the interview room, went out to speak with Grant and returned a couple of minutes later.
Grant, asked if he ever had four players foul out in a game, mumbled "no" under his breath. Asked what he thought happened, said "When you have four guys foul out ..." before trailing off and not finishing his sentence.
Quick 8
Alabama's Rodney Cooper shot the Crimson Tide back in contention in a hurry after Arkansas opened a 15-5 lead on Michael Qualls' fast-break dunk on a pass from Bobby Portis.
Cooper made a driving layup, then hit consecutive three-pointers from the left wing -- all in a span of 65 seconds -- to cut the Crimson Tide's deficit to 15-13.
Cooper scored 15 points in the first half and none in the second.
For starters
Alandise Harris and Anthlon Bell returned to the starting lineup, taking the places of Moses Kingsley and Jabril Durham.
Harris made his eighth start and Bell made his 13th of the season.
Sports on 01/23/2015