TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Alabama couldn't handle the pressure.

"We played our poorest game of the year when we needed to play good," said Alabama coach Mark Gottfried, whose team has lost three straight games.

It's just the opposite for the Razorbacks (18-9, 9-6 Southeastern Conference), who have won four straight and nine of 12 to strengthen their case for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

"This has got to be one of the greatest accomplishments the Razorbacks have had in a long time," said Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson, whose team was coming off a win over No. 15 Kentucky. "We're beginning to play our best basketball."

The Razorbacks clinched second place in the SEC West and a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

"We came in and played hard and escaped with one," said Joe Johnson, who had 17 points and five assists. "We feel like we can beat anyone right now.

"We just came in and tried to get them rattled with our press."

Alabama (20-8, 8-7) blew an eight-point second-half lead and shot just 31 percent in the second half and 16-for-30 overall from the line. Rod Grizzard, the league's leading scorer, had only two points and that basket came in the final two minutes.

"This was one of the worst games I've ever had," said Grizzard, who was 1-for-11 from the field and missed five 3-point tries. "There were points when I needed to score, and they just weren't falling."

The Razorbacks took their biggest lead, 63-55, with 3:42 left. Terrance Meade then converted a three-point play and Grizzard's putback with 1:47 left made it 63-60.

Alabama cut it to 65-63 with 12 seconds left as Tarik London penetrated into the lane and dished back to an open Travis Stinnett, who drained his fourth 3-pointer in five attempts.

Johnson then hit the second of two free throws with 8.5 seconds left. London brought the ball up court and dished to Stinnett again. This time he overshot in traffic and the ball bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

"I'd like to have that shot back," Stinnett said. "I was somewhat off balance."

Alabama was off balance much of the night, often failing to get the ball to halfcourt. The three starting guards – Stinnett, Grizzard and Meade – combined for five assists and 18 turnovers.

"They're quick, they're strong and they're full speed the whole game," Stinnett said of Arkansas' defense.

Teddy Gipson had 11 points and four of the Razorbacks' 16 steals, while Larry Satchell added 10 points. Johnson also had five assists.

Stinnett had 16 points, while center Kenny Walker had 15, including Alabama's first 12 of the second half. Walker also had nine rebounds.

Meade had 13 points and five turnovers.

The Razorbacks took control with a 24-7 run capped by Satchell's layin with 8:50 left. Walker was the only Alabama player to score in the first 13 minutes and the only one to get a field goal in a 16-minute span.

"The second half, we controlled the ball from the defensive end," Richardson said. "We took Grizzard out of the game."

In their first meeting this season, Arkansas scored the game's final 22 points for an 87-58 win in Fayetteville.

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