Tag: Arkansas San Diego State

Kamani Johnson likely won’t finish in the top six or seven on the Arkansas roster in minutes played.

But the 19 he was on the court Wednesday were of massive importance in the Razorbacks’ 78-74 overtime win over San Diego State in the third-place game of the Maui Invitational.

Johnson, a 6-foot-9 forward, is the kind of player from the old school. He’s a rough-and-tumble post player who won’t take many jumpers – or many shots at all – and whose value comes from battling on the block.

Those kinds of players aren’t en vogue in basketball, but Wednesday showed there is still a place for them. Arkansas coach Eric Musselman leaned on his big man in the late going, with Johnson’s toughness and leadership proving paramount for a Hogs team with only two returners.

Let’s take a look beyond the box score at how Arkansas came away with the victory.

Kamani Johnson’s tip-in at the regulation buzzer sent the game to overtime and he and Ricky Council scored nine of Arkansas’ 11 points in OT to lead the No. 9 Razorbacks over No. 17 San Diego State, 78-74, late Wednesday from the Maui Invitational.

Arkansas never had a lead in the second half, but the teams were tied at 61 with 3:37 left in regulation. Trailing by two with seven seconds left, the Razorbacks forced Lamont Butler into a turnover. Anthony Black drove toward the hoop in the final seconds and missed a layup, but Johnson leaped and tipped the ball through the hoop as the buzzer sounded.

Johnson’s layup with 1:53 left in overtime proved the game’s final field goal and gave Arkansas a three-point lead. He only made two field goals in the game.

Johnson played 19 minutes, three fewer than he had played in total all season, scoring seven points and grabbing seven rebounds. Trevon Brazile led Arkansas in scoring with 20 points while Ricky Council had 19 and Anthony Black added 15.

San Diego State held the Razorbacks to 40% shooting from the floor, but were outscored by Arkansas’ bench 33-17.

The Hogs (5-1) return to action Monday at Bud Walton Arena on Monday when they host Troy.