E S C A P E D: Arkansas picks up its 4th conference victory in a row

It was not pretty and it seemed like Auburn could not miss, but Arkansas found a way. Behind Courtney Fortson's 24 points (11 in overtime) the Hogs did what they had to do to win another conference ball game. The Razorbacks are a team that many left for dead, but they now lead the SEC West at the half-way point of the season.

Marshawn Powell and Courtney Fortson took the game over down the stretch. With Arkansas trailing 62-58 the Hogs kicked it in to high gear and eventually took a 67-65 lead with 4.1 seconds left in the game. Then Auburn's Tay Waller took a fade away from about 27 feet that clipped the side of the rim. Auburn grabbed the rebound falling out of bounds letting a three pointer fly, and while the shot was an air ball, Lucas Hargrove was there to grab the ball out of the air for a put back to tie the game with 1.6 seconds to go in the game to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, it was Courtney Fortson time. Fortson took the game over by taking the ball to the rack to the ice the game, or so they thought. A Stefan Welsh mental error gave the Tigers hope, but Arkansas was too tough down the stretch. Arkansas was able to escape with an 82-79 victory.

This team has such a small margin for error, but they seem to be able to get past mental errors with tough play to be able to pick up victories. Since the Kentucky blowout many have expected this team to lay down and quit, but to the team and coaches credit they have not. Now at least they are in the conversation for an NCAA tournament birth. A team that has won the SEC West has never missed the NCAA tournament. Should they be expected to be able to make the NCAA tournament? No, but to their credit they have made it in the realm of possibility. For this team to make any post-season outside of the SEC tournament should be considered a success. Any post-season! Even the NIT.