The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/16/08
Steven Hill scored only two points against Tennessee, but they were the biggest two points of his life.
The Arkansas 7-footer scored with only 5.3 seconds left, and Tennessee All-American Chris Lofton missed a shot at the buzzer as Arkansas stunned the No. 4 Volunteers 92-91 in the semifinals of the SEC tournament at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Top-seeded Tennessee (29-4), which was trying to win its first SEC tournament since 1979, seemed to be taking control of the game when it reeled off nine consecutive points to take a 74-65 lead with 8:17 left.
But the Razorbacks tied the game at 76-76 with an 11-2 run and took an 88-85 lead on a jumper by Sonny Weems with 2:03 left.
Tennessee took a 91-90 lead when JuJuan Smith made a jumper with 18.5 seconds left. But Arkansas pounded the ball inside to Hill, a defensive specialist, and he made the leaning shot to give Arkansas the lead.
"I didn't expect to take that shot — or any shot — at the end of the game," Hill said. "But the ball came into me, and I knew time was running out. I just threw it up there, and it went in."
With the victory Arkansas (22-10) advances to the SEC championship game for the second consecutive year. It also all but guarantees the Razorbacks a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Tennessee was trying to win 30 games in a season for the first time. Now the Volunteers have to go home and await their assignment from the NCAA selection committee, which will announce the 65-team field today. Tennessee is still expected to be a No. 1 seed.



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