LSU’s Adam Miller made two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining and Arkansas’ Jordan Walsh just missed a half-court heave at the buzzer as the ninth-ranked Razorbacks lost 60-57 in their SEC opener Wednesday at Maravich Assembly Center.
Aided by missed free throws, the Tigers (12-1, 1-0 SEC) survived despite Arkansas having several chances to tie or take the lead in the game’s final two minutes. The Razorbacks (11-2, 0-1) had a seven-game win streak snapped.
LSU won its seventh consecutive game and improved to 5-1 this season in games decided by fourth points or less.
Ricky Council, Arkansas’ leading scorer and an 81% free-throw shooter, missed two free throws late, including the front end of a one-and-one with the Razorbacks trailing 54-53 with 1:30 remaining.
Trae Hannibal responded with a driving layup with 1:11 remaining to put the Tigers ahead 56-53, but Davonte Davis cut into the lead with a jump shot from the top of the key with 56.7 seconds remaining.
Hannibal, a Murray State and South Carolina transfer who led LSU with 19 points off the bench, added another contested layup with 32 seconds remaining to give the Tigers a 58-55 lead.
Anthony Black followed a Davis miss with a layup with 21.1 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 58-57. Makhi Mitchell blocked an LSU layup attempt with nine seconds left to give the Razorbacks a chance to take the lead, but no foul was called as four LSU defenders collapsed around Council in the lane in the waning seconds.
Walsh narrowly missed a would-be game-tying shot from 47 feet at the buzzer. The bank shot clanked off the rim.
A physical game included only 27 personal fouls combined, and both teams struggled at the free-throw line. Arkansas went 5 of 10 at the line and LSU was 6 of 12.
The Tigers shot 40.3% from the floor (25 of 62) and made 4 of 17 three-pointers, while Arkansas shot 36.9% (24 of 65) and was 4 of 25 from beyond the arc.
Both teams committed 10 turnovers, but LSU capitalized more often with a 13-4 lead in points off turnovers. The Razorbacks were able to stay close with 11 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.
Davis led Arkansas with 16 points, while Council and Walsh scored 13 apiece. Mitchell had a team-high 12 boards.
All of the Razorbacks’ scoring came from their five starters, marking the first time Arkansas’ bench went scoreless since a 2020 game at LSU.
Reserves Joseph Pinion, Jalen Graham and Kamani Johnson combined to play 12 minutes. Arkansas played its eighth game without star freshman Nick Smith due to a knee injury.
Derek Fountain had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Tigers, who remained undefeated at home under first-year coach Matt McMahon.
Justice Hill, a Little Rock native who signed with Arkansas out of high school but never played for the Razorbacks following a coaching change, scored two points in his first career game against his home-state team. Hill transferred to LSU from Murray State after last season, following McMahon to Baton Rouge.
Arkansas is scheduled to play again next Wednesday in Fayetteville against Missouri (12-1, 1-0), which opened SEC play with an 89-75 home victory over 19th-ranked Kentucky on Wednesday.