Photo gallery: Arkansas practically clinches NCAA Tourney bid with win over Auburn

It wasn’t close until it was. Arkansas escaped Nashville with a win over Auburn. A&M on Friday.

Smiles were aplenty Thursday night in Nashville.

On the Arkansas side of the floor, anyway.

After the game

The 10th-seeded Razorbacks beat No. 7-seed Auburn in the second round of the SEC Tournament to advance to a quarterfinals game against No. 2 Texas A&M, 76-73. Nick Smith Jr.’s jumper with 17 seconds left was the game-winner.

Arkansas’ win all but guarantees an NCAA Tournament berth, though the Razorbacks were considered on the right side of the bubble even before the game. Auburn, too, is likely Tourney bound, though the Tigers will have lost three of their last four heading to the NCAAs.

Anthony Black led Arkansas with 19 points. He also had six rebounds and six assists. Smith had another 14 points and Jordan Walsh added 11and Makhi Mitchell 12.

The Hogs and Aggies are set for a 6 p.m. tip in the quarters on Friday night.