NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a Southeastern Conference tournament semifinal defined by relentless runs and clutch responses, the Arkansas Razorbacks outlasted the Mississippi Rebels 93-90 in overtime Saturday at Bridgestone Arena.

The victory, secured before a crowd of 16,612, propelled Arkansas into the tournament championship game and ended a gritty, season-long pursuit for Mississippi, which had fought through three games in as many days to reach this stage.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived in the final minute of regulation, a microcosm of the entire 45-minute contest. Trailing 79-78 with under 10 seconds to play, Mississippi’s Ilias Kamardine was fouled on a drive and calmly sank two free throws to give the Rebels a one-point lead. Arkansas star Meleek Thomas was then fouled with 5.1 seconds left. He missed the first free throw but made the second to tie the game at 80. Mississippi’s AJ Storr then raced the length of the floor for a driving layup at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime and momentarily stunning the Razorback faithful.

Arkansas, however, seized control early in the extra period. Trevon Brazile won the opening tip and Malique Ewin finished with a dunk 10 seconds in. After a Mississippi turnover, Ewin was fouled and made both free throws, giving the Razorbacks a four-point cushion they would not relinquish. The Rebels, relying heavily on Storr’s scoring, kept within striking distance, but Arkansas answered every challenge. A driving layup by Darius Acuff Jr. with 43 seconds left put Arkansas up 91-89. Storr tied it again with a dunk, but Acuff was fouled with 8.1 seconds remaining. He made the second of two free throws for a 92-91 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Storr’s potential game-winning three-pointer missed, and Brazile secured the defensive rebound. Fouled immediately, Brazile made one of two free throws for the final margin. A desperation heave by Mississippi was off target as time expired.

The game was a statistical oddity and a testament to contrasting styles. Mississippi finished with a higher field goal percentage, shooting 50% on 35-of-70 shooting compared to Arkansas’s 46.4% on 32-of-69. The Rebels also made more three-pointers, nine to Arkansas’s six. However, the Razorbacks dominated at the free-throw line and on the glass. Arkansas attempted 31 free throws, making 23, while Mississippi went 11-of-14. More critically, Arkansas grabbed 14 offensive rebounds leading to 18 second-chance points, while Mississippi managed only eight offensive boards.

Arkansas was led by the stellar backcourt duo of Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. Thomas, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, played 45 minutes and scored a game-high 29 points, adding five assists. Acuff, a 6-foot-3 guard from Detroit, Michigan, played 39 minutes and contributed 24 points and seven assists. Their combined 53 points provided the offensive engine for the Razorbacks. The frontcourt of Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin provided crucial interior play. Brazile scored 16 points and grabbed key rebounds, while Ewin added 14 points and was a constant force on the offensive glass.

Mississippi’s effort was spearheaded by AJ Storr, who exploded for 24 points in just 20 minutes off the bench, providing a vital scoring spark. Patton Pinkins added 15 points, while Malik Dia and Ilias Kamardine each scored 16 and 13 points, respectively. James Scott anchored the defense with three blocks.

The game featured 11 ties and 15 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than eight points. Arkansas held a narrow 37-36 edge at halftime. Mississippi surged early in the second half, but the Razorbacks responded with a 12-2 run to reclaim the lead, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 25-8 and advanced to the SEC tournament final. Mississippi’s season concluded at 15-20, a record belying the tenacity the Rebels displayed in Nashville, having knocked off higher-seeded opponents Alabama, Georgia, and Texas in the preceding days.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Arkansas entered with an 82.1% probability to win and was favored by 8.5 points. The total score of 183 points significantly exceeded the over/under line of 158.5.