Razorbacks fall to Ole Miss in overtime

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorback men’s basketball team led early and rallied late, but couldn’t close the deal in a 98-91 loss to Ole Miss in overtime Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas (14-14, 2-13) trailed by as much as seven in the second half before taking a late lead against the Rebels. In overtime, Ole Miss (16-13, 7-8) took control of the game to come away with the win.Five Razorbacks finished the game in double figures, including 19 points by Rotnei Fortson and a double-double performance by Courtney Fortson. The freshman guard had 18 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Michael Washington and Stefan Welsh scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, and Michael Sanchez chipped in 11 points in the loss.Washington scored the first basket in overtime for the Hogs, but Ole Miss scored the next nine points of the extra period to take the 93-86 advantage. Arkansas had the ball, trailing by five, with a chance to cut into the lead with under a minute to play but wasn’t able to capitalize. The Rebels outscored Arkansas, 14-7, in overtime to secure the victory.After trailing all game, Ole Miss took its first lead with 13:45 to play in the game on a three-point basket by Terrico White. The score capped the Rebels’ 19-9 run to start the second half. White scored a game-high 29 points, 27 of those coming after halftime.Arkansas regained the lead on a pair of free throws by Clarke, but it was short lived as DeAundre Cranston made a three pointer to give Ole Miss the 59-57 lead. The Rebels stretched their lead to seven on another three by White with 6:42 left on the game clock.The Razorbacks cut their deficit to one on a pair of free throws by Sanchez with 2:37 to play. After an Ole Miss score, Fortson kept the ball in his hands and found Washington under the bucket for a dunk to tie the game, 81-81, with 1:29 to play.Down by one after a free throw by Ole Miss, Welsh nailed a three pointer with 52.5 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Hogs the 84-82 lead. White knotted the score with a driving basket and 32.3 seconds showing on the game clock.Welsh missed a three pointer with the clock winding down and White’s half-court heave was wide to extend the game, the Razorbacks’ second overtime game of the season.

The Hogs shot 51.7 percent from the floor in the first half and connected on eight of 15 attempts from behind the three-point line. Arkansas scored the first four points of the game, including a Washington dunk at the 18:21 mark to force an Ole Miss time out.Arkansas built its lead to 20-8 when Clarke made one of his four first-half three pointers. The Rebels replied with a 12-5 run over the next 4:40 of play to pull to within five, 25-20, but the home team regained control with a run of its own. Like their opponents, the Razorbacks went on a 12-5 run to push the lead back to 12 with 4:45 to play before the half.The lead would not last as Ole Miss would rally to pull within three and trailed, 38-35, with less than two minutes remaining in the opening half. Fortson and Clarke knocked in back-to-back three pointers to end the half to send the Hogs into the locker room with a nine-point lead, 44-35.Arkansas is now 10-5 when leading at halftime.The Razorbacks conclude their regular season with Saturday’s matchup at Vanderbilt. The game will be televised by Raycom and is set for a 1:05 p.m. tip. Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for more information.

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