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Saturday, Mar. 3 2:00pm ET
Georgia in danger of missing tourney with loss

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Even the University of Arkansas chancellor got caught up in the Razorbacks' form reversal.

With slightly more than a minute to play and Arkansas in front by 14, John White was on the court holding aloft a sign that said: "Razorback fans are standing."

Five games ago, Arkansas fans were not as easy to identify. The Razorbacks were 14-9, 5-6 in the SEC and the NIT was mentioned often. Saturday, Arkansas solidified its NCAA Tournament credentials by completing a 5-0 run through LSU, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia with an 82-67 victory.

Brandon Davis
Arkansas' Brandon Davis (20) comes down with a rebound in the Hogs win over Georgia.
"I don't think we have to worry about the tournament any more," Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said. "It's a done deal."

Arkansas did it against the Bulldogs with a raft of 3s and a defense that caused 21 turnovers. During the last five games, Arkansas opponents have committed 114 turnovers.

Arkansas deflated Georgia by making 10-of-16 3-point attempts during one stretch and will be no worse than second in the Western Division despite an 0-3 league start. Georgia (16-13, 9-7) has lost six of its last nine and is in danger of missing the NCAA.

Georgia opens the SEC tournament against LSU and Bulldog coach Jim Harrick said he is worried about the Tigers."I won't tell my team this but they are probably a difference maker for us," Harrick said. "Our league should have seven (teams)."

Arkansas made only 2-of-8 from long range early and fell behind by 11 with almost 12 minutes gone in the first half. During the next 20 minutes, the Razorbacks were sizzling from outside.

Brandon Dean and Blake Eddins made consecutive 3s early in the second half as the lead climbed to 12. Because of mistakes, the Bulldogs did not get a shot on their next three possessions.

Brandon Davis, Arkansas' only senior, hit a 3 from the corner for 60-46. At that point, the Razorbacks had made 5-of-7 3-point attempts in the second half. After the game, Richardson presented the game ball to Davis, who made only his fifth start of the year.

Alonzo Lane made a tough catch of a Jannero Pargo pass and laid it in for 64-48. Charles Tatum's 3 was the 10th of the hot-shooting stretch and pushed the lead to 20 with 8:45 to play.

A half-dozen Arkansas players made 3s and Tatum was the only one who shot less than 50 percent. Eddins led the way with 4-of-6 for 12 points. Teddy Gipson, who was in the middle of a 16-2 first-half run, led Arkansas with 16.

"When you shoot 50 percent from 3-point range you are going to win," Harrick said.

D.A. Layne led Georgia with 14 and Robb Dryden contributed 12.

Early in the game, Arkansas did a lot of passing around the perimeter and little pressing. The Bulldogs led 7-5 despite making only 3-of-10 shots because Arkansas was 2-of-6 with four turnovers.

Shon Coleman's arching jumper and two free throws by Chris Daniels made it 19-12 with 10{ to play. Anthony Wright's bank shot and a tough put back by Steve Thomas upped the lead to 23-12.

The Razorbacks picked up the tempo and started hitting.

Gipson made a free throw and missed the second, but Joe Johnson tracked down the rebound and found Gipson in the corner for a 3. Dean followed with a 3 and then Johnson came up with a steal that led to a 3 by T.J. Cleveland that cut the lead to 25-24. Johnson missed from close range on an inbounds play, but Dionisio Gomez tipped it in at 6:05 for Arkansas' first lead since 5-4. On the move, Johnson swiped a pass and got it to Gipson for a baseline jumper that completed the run.

That run, Richardson said, "seemed like the old days."

Arkansas upped the lead to six when Dean stole a bounce pass from Layne, who was double teamed, and lobbed to Gipson for a layup.

Layne's 3 and Robb Dryden's tip of a missed free throw cut the lead to one, but Eddins' long 3 with five seconds left made it 39-35 at the half.

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