Half — South Carolina 38, Arkansas 35
A 1-3-1 defense by South Carolina gave Arkansas fits at the end of the half.
The Gamecocks got stops on three consecutive possessions and ended the period on a 6-0 run to take a lead.
Makhi Mitchell put the Razorbacks ahead 31-30 with a three-point play then extended the lead with another make inside.
Khalif Battle countered a pair of free throw makes for the Gamecocks with two of his own.
Back-to-back putback dunk by Josh Gray gave South Carolina a 36-35 lead.
After the South Carolina zone defense forced a shot-clock violation, the Gamecocks called a timeout.
With 4.3 seconds left, Meechie Johnson drove the length of the floor and got a make at the rim at the buzzer.
Collin Murray-Boyles leads all scorers with 12 points and BJ Mack has 9.
Khalif Battle has 10 points for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are 14 of 26 (54%) from the floor and the Gamecocks are 15 of 32 (47%).
South Carolina has 11 second-chance points on 6 offensive rebounds. Arkansas has 1 offensive rebound and 0 second-chance points.
The game has been tied 4 times and has seen 13 lead changes.
3:55, 1H — South Carolina 29, Arkansas 28
The teams are going back and forth now.
There have been 11 lead changes and 3 ties. Collin Murray-Boyles has 11 points to lead South Carolina and BJ Mack has 9 points.
Khalif Battle has 8 points to lead Arkansas and Jalen Graham has added 6 points.
7:50, 1H — Arkansas 24, South Carolina 23
Arkansas is continuing to have trouble stopping the Gamecocks but is answering.
Myles Stute gave the Gamecocks a 17-15 lead with a three-pointer but Jalen Graham tied it with a layup.
After a Meechie Johnson jumper, Khalif Battle knocked down a three-pointer to give the Razorbacks a 20-19 advantage.
Jumpers from Tramon Mark and Graham helped Arkansas take a lead into the media timeout.
11:32, 1H — Arkansas 15, South Carolina 14
The Gamecocks are starting to get on a roll offensively. They have made 5 of their last 7 shots and are 50% from the floor.
Arkansas’ early lead is dwindling away. Collin Murray-Boyles has 9 points to lead all scorers.
The Razorbacks have missed their last three shots.
15:44, 1H — Arkansas 11, South Carolina 5
It’s been a great start for the Razorbacks, who have gotten a lift from Trevon Brazile.
Brazile made a pair of three-pointers to put the Razorbacks ahead 6-3, then a layup and three-point play by Khalif Battle extended it to 11-3.
Collin Murray-Boyles will have a trip to the foul line to try and complete a three-point play after the media timeout.
Both fouls against the Razorbacks have been on Brazile, who has been impactful but will likely have to sit for much of the half.
Starting lineups
ARKANSAS (16-16)
POS., NAME, HT, YR.; PPG; RPG
G Tramon Mark, 6-6, Jr.; 16.7; 4.3
G Khalif Battle, 6-5, Sr.; 14.6; 3.2
G El Ellis, 6-3, Sr.; 6.7; 2.1
F Trevon Brazile, 6-10, So.; 8.6; 6.0
F Chandler Lawson, 6-8, Sr.; 3.7; 3.2
SOUTH CAROLINA (25-6)
POS. NAME, HT, YR.; PPG; RPG
G Meechie Johnson, 6-2, Jr.; 14.4; 4.2
G Ta’Lon Cooper, 6-4, Sr.; 9.7; 4.3
G Zachary Davis, 6-7, So.; 5.7; 3.5
F B.J. Mack, 6-8, Sr.; 13.5; 4.5
F Collin Murray-Boyles, 6-7, Fr.; 10.3; 5.7
Pregame reading
• Arkansas vs. South Carolina at the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament: How to watch and listen, betting line
• Tumultuous Arkansas basketball season continues with OT win over Vanderbilt
• March is on for Arkansas basketball after OT scare
