Alabama Drops a Close Contest to Arkansas, 65-58

The Alabama men's basketball fell Wednesday night in a hard-fought road contest to Arkansas, 65-58. The Crimson Tide was led by junior guard Rodney Cooper who had a season-high 22 points. With the loss, Alabama falls to 9-13, 3-6 in SEC play, while the Razorbacks improve to 14-8, 3-6 in conference play.

Cooper also had 10 rebounds, which gives him his second career double-double. Senior guard Trevor Releford had 12 points, which extends his streak of double-digit scoring games to 23. Releford and Cooper combined to go 11-23, while the rest of the team went 10-36.

Alabama led by two points at halftime, 26-24, after junior guard Levi Randolph hit a shot at the buzzer. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with 11 tie scores and 12 lead changes. Arkansas was led by freshman Bobby Portis who had 35 points, nine rebounds and six blocks.

Alabama, which is in a stretch of four of five games away from home, will remain on the road when it travels to square off against No. 3/4 Florida on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT (noon ET) on ESPN. It will mark the second meeting this season against the Gators, as Florida captured a 68-62 win at Coleman Coliseum on Jan. 23.