Arkansas wins ugly over Auburn

Posted 8:53AM on Sunday 3rd February 2002 ( 23 years ago )

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - Ugly doesn't quite do justice to Arkansas-Auburn. Arkansas scored four points during the final 4:46 and won 62-60. Auburn scored two points during the same 286 seconds. Auburn shot 26 percent from 3-point range and won that battle. Between them, the two teams made 9-of-36 from long range. In the last 2:20, the teams made 1-of-5 free throws and three of the misses came at the front end of a bonus situation. Auburn did not have a turnover in the first four minutes, but suffered 21 the rest of the way and Arkansas turned those miscues into 26 points. On the other hand, the losers were plus-20 in the rebound department. ``It wasn't always pretty, but it was a good game and we have a chance to win when it's that way,'' said Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. For some time, Richardson has been chiding Teddy Gipson about being soft on defense. Against Auburn, Gipson's steal and three-point play put Arkansas ahead to stay. ``He made the big play,'' Richardson said. ``It probably was one of his best games.'' Gipson's only points of the second half broke the 10th tie of the game and made it 61-58 with 4:17 to play. T.J. Cleveland's free throw at 1:30 completed the scoring for Arkansas (12-9, 4-5). During the final 4:50, the Tigers (9-11, 1-8) managed only a put-back basket by Lewis Monroe with 1:48 remaining. Down the stretch, Arkansas' Brandon Dean misfired on a 3 and twice missed the front end of a one-and-one. On the other end, Auburn missed three shots on one trip, Monroe drove hard before flipping a pass to the corner for the pep squad, and Abdou Daime missed the first of a bonus opportunity. Monroe also fell down with a rebound and Arkansas' Jannero Pargo did the same. Pargo's tumble gave Auburn a chance with 1.5 seconds to play, but Derrick Bird fumbled the inbounds pass in the corner and his high arching shot wasn't close. From the free throw line, Dean's attempt was too strong with 43.4 to play and again with 24.9 remaining. ``I left the door open for them,'' Dean said. ``That was terrible. I'm usually a reliable free throw shooter. I was surprised I missed them.'' Adam Harrington forced a 3 in the final seconds and Pargo rebounded before he slipped to the floor. ``I think our inexperience hurt us down the stretch, but I can't be too mad with how we played on the road,'' said Auburn coach Cliff Ellis. Arkansas led by 11 early in the second half before Auburn scored 10 straight following a technical foul on Pargo, who had a verbal exchange with another player. The spurt, which included two baskets and a steal by Robinson, gave the Tigers a 43-41 lead the first time they had been in front since 9-7. Robinson scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds. Pargo, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half, ended the Tigers' run with an off-balance, off-the-backboard 17-footer. It was tied at 54, 56 and 58 before a timeout. The Tigers threw it in to Brandon Robinson 35 feet from the basket and he wasn't paying attention when Gipson flicked the ball away from him. Gipson, who scored 11 in the first half, finished the break despite Robinson's catch-up efforts and then added the free throw. Gipson led Arkansas with 14 points. ``I knew he was trailing me,'' Gipson said. ``I just put it off the glass and finished it.'' The Razorbacks built a 31-23 halftime lead, scoring 14 points off a dozen turnovers.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/2/199286