The game between Arkansas and Vanderbilt was tightly…
The game between Arkansas and Vanderbilt was tightly contested throughout, with momentum swinging back and forth. Arkansas appeared to have control of the game, leading by eight points with two minutes remaining. However, a dramatic turn of events unfolded, disappointing Razorback fans in Nashville. Ezra Manjon emerged as a pivotal figure, scoring three crucial late field goals. Despite Arkansas holding a two-point lead with 13 seconds left, Khalif Battle’s failed inbound pass led to a buzzer-beating shot by Manjon off a steal.
Following an early deficit, Arkansas relied on Battle once again. The transfer from Temple scored seven of his team-leading 24 points in overtime, including a crucial driving layup that widened the lead to seven points with 1:39 remaining.
The game began at a fast pace, with both teams racing up and down the court. However, turnovers plagued both sides, totaling nine in the first nine minutes. The score was tied at 16 with 10:46 left in the first half.
As the game progressed, both teams traded baskets. Vanderbilt gained momentum with a 10-0 run, highlighted by Ven-Allen Lubin’s three-pointer and a powerful dunk by Malik Presley, extending their lead to 37-25.
Arkansas struggled to score in the final minutes of the first half, managing only two points in the last 5:48. Manjon’s buzzer-beating fadeaway at the elbow capped off Vanderbilt’s strong first half, as they entered halftime with a 41-27 lead.
