One team really hurt their at large bid chances for the NCAA tournament while another strengthened theirs at the expense of a tough conference rival.
Southern Illinois continues to struggle, losing at Evansville 64-59. It was only Evansville's fourth win in conference this year and eighth overall. The Salukis are now in fourth in the Missouri Valley, only a half game up on Missouri State who has a game in hand. Combine this with the home bracket buster loss to Louisiana Tech and the Salukis are on the outside, looking in.
Arkansas rallied from an eighteen point second deficit to defeat Alabama 65-63. Arkansas is now 18-8 and 7-6 in the SEC while Alabama falls to 15-10 and 8-5 in the SEC. Arkansas needed the win, otherwise the Razorbacks would have fallen to below .500 in conference, a death nell for any team that wants an at large bid. Arkansas' remaining games are at Tennessee on Saturday, home to Mississippi State next week, then at Georgia to finish the regular season. Alabama is home to Florida on Sunday, then home to Auburn, then at Mississippi State to finish the regular season. Both teams need to win two out of their last three games to secure an at large bid.
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