The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Arkansas
Arkansas Outlasts Ole Miss, 71-64
1/5/2000 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2000
By HARRY KING
AP Sports Writer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Joe Johnson drove the lane and beat the shot clock for a big basket with 3:11 to play and then pulled up and sank a 12 footer barely a minute later as Arkansas outlasted Mississippi 71-64 Wednesday night.
At least three times during the final couple of minutes, Arkansas (9-5, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) turned the offense over to the 6-foot-8 freshman 30 feet from the basket. His driving layup made it 63-59 and his jumper made it 65-60 with 1:56 to play.
Johnson, who became eligible after the first semester, added two free throws with 30 seconds to play for a seven-point margin. He led all scorers with 17. Mississippi (12-2, 0-1) led by four with 6:34 remaining, but scored only five points the rest of the way.
Marcus Hicks' two free throws gave the Rebels their first lead in 16 minutes, 56-55. Darrian Brown missed a 3, but Richard Kirklin grabbed the rebound and swished it from 6 feet despite an awkward body lean. Rahim Lockhart converted one of two free throws for 59-55 before T.J. Cleveland turned a Teddy Gipson steal into a three-point play.
Alonzo Lane challenged two Mississippi players inside and tied it with a free throw.
Cleveland tipped the ball off Jason Flanigan's knee on the sidelines. Mississippi's Jason Harrison went to the floor and Jason Gilbert fell over him. Gilbert's two free throws put Arkansas in front to stay.
Lockhart led the Rebels with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but his only points in the second half came on 2-of-8 free throws.
