Arkansas' run at a second SEC Tournament championship ran into a run at perfection Sunday.
The Razorbacks lost 78-63 to undefeated No. 1 Kentucky at Bridgestone Arena in the finals of the conference tournament. Arkansas (26-8) will learn of its NCAA Tournament destination later today.
Kentucky (34-0) never trailed after beginning the game on an 8-0 run. The Wildcats won their 28th conference tournament championship.
The No. 21 Razorbacks rallied to tie the game 19-19, but the Wildcats finished finished the first half on a 22-6 run to take a 16-point halftime lead.
Arkansas pulled to within nine on a Michael Qualls floater midway through the second half, but the Razorbacks could get no closer as the larger Wildcats flexed their muscle on both ends of the floor. Kentucky made 51 percent of its field goal attempts and 21 of 27 free throws.
Arkansas lost by a similar margin as it did during an 84-67 decision on Feb. 27 at Kentucky, but the game had a much different feel. The Razorbacks trailed by 31 points midway through the second half in the teams' earlier meeting.
Andrew Harrison and Willie Cauley-Stein each scored 15 points to lead the Wildcats, and Cauley-Stein added 10 rebounds. Aaron Harrison added 11 points.
Qualls led Arkansas with 18 points off the bench. Bobby Portis added 13 points, but had only two rebounds.
The Razorbacks fell to 1-8 all-time against Kentucky at the SEC Tournament, including 0-3 in tournament championship games.