Arkansas falls in OT heartbreaker to Alabama

For the second consecutive week, Arkansas went on the road and pushed one of the SEC's best to the brink in their own building. But they also couldn't make enough plays for the second consecutive week to close the game. 

No. 16 Alabama got off to a cold start in Tuscaloosa, falling behind by as many as 15 points to the Razorbacks before heating up in the second half. Once the threes started falling for Nate Oats' group, Arkansas had no respite.

A jumper by Latrell Wrightsell Jr. with 29 seconds left in overtime pushed the Crimson Tide's lead to four, and after a pair of free throws, Arkansas fell just short of victory.

Khalif Battle (22 pts) and Makhi Mitchell (18 pts) led the Razorbacks in scoring but were countered by Mark Sears and Wrightsell, who scored 22 and 20 points, respectively. With the win, Alabama clinches a double bye in the SEC Tournament, while Arkansas will have to win five games in five days in Nashville to make the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas will be the 12th seed in the SEC Tournament, taking on Vanderbilt on Wednesday night. 

While Arkansas's loss will sting, Razorback fans can take solace in the fact that their team seems to be playing its best basketball of the year when it needs to, despite being unable to close the games out. 

The SEC Tournament will ultimately decide the Razorbacks' season, but games like Saturday's give fans hope for a run in Nashville.