Arkansas Associate Head Basketball Coach David Patrick and his #8 ranked team were down 10 with 2:28 left and got it to within one on a JD Notae steal and Justin Smith layup with 39 seconds left.
LSU scored on the ensuing possession and was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line inside the final 11 seconds to defeat Arkansas, 78-71, in the SEC Semi-Finals at Bridgestone Arena.
Arkansas has its 12-game SEC win streak snapped, is 22-6 for the season, and reached the SEC Tournament Semi-Final for the 15th time.
Justin Smith scored six points and Moses Moody converted an old-fashion 3-point play during the 9-0 run to make it a one-point game. Smith finished with 21 points, making 10-of-13 shots, with seven rebounds.
Moody, who had 20 first-half points, just missed a double-double as he scored 28 points, tying his career-high for the fourth time this season and third time in a four-game span. He added nine rebounds, marking the fourth time this season he led Arkansas in both scoring and rebounding in the same game.
Down three at halftime, Arkansas out-scored LSU 13-7 to start the second half and took a three-point lead (50-47). LSU answered with a 17-2 run to lead by 12 and LSU held the lead the rest of the way. LSU was up seven with 5:35 left to play. While LSU only made one field goal the rest of the way, LSU was 9-of-9 from the line to secure the win.
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