Each of the 6,079 white-clad Auburn fans in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Thursday night knew the challenge facing the Tigers in their Southeastern Conference opener.
Down to seven healthy scholarship players and without their only true defensive post presence, AU had to square off against a massive Arkansas frontline. Few observers gave the Tigers a chance.
But Auburn hung with the Razorbacks throughout Thursday’s game, a 76-70 Arkansas win. AU even had a chance to win in the final minute.
“It says we’re going to come to compete every night,” senior guard Frank Tolbert said. “There’s not a night we’re going to come out and compete at a high level.
“We have to play at a high level of basketball every night, because we’re short of people.”
The exhausted Tigers missed two game-tying 3-pointers in the final 49 seconds, allowing Arkansas to escape.
“The kids battled their tail off,” Auburn head coach Jeff Lebo said. “They were incredible out there tonight.”
Auburn (9-4, 0-1 SEC) trailed 73-68 with two minutes to play. But Tolbert hit two free throws to pull the Tigers within 3.
After an Arkansas miss, AU ran a play than ended with point guard Quantez Robertson open for a 3-pointer. His attempt clanged off the rim, but Rasheem Barrett grabbed an offensive rebound and flipped the ball to forward Quan Prowell.
Prowell’s game-tying attempt ended just short.
“We were fatigued,” Lebo said.
Arkansas grabbed the rebound — the Razorbacks’ 32nd of the night — to put a stop to any hopes of an Auburn comeback.
Lebo said Prowell, one of the Tigers’ better 3-point shooters, was exhausted by the demands of battling in the post. At a slender 6-foot-8, Prowell isn’t well-equipped to be an SEC post defender, but he’s Auburn’s only option.
“I feel confident when he shoots the ball,” Lebo said. “He got tired from being down there in the post.”
Prowell played 31 minutes; fellow starters Robertson and Barrett each played 38. Point guard DeWayne Reed played all 40 minutes.
Arkansas (12-3, 1-0) led by as much as 8 in the first half and appeared poised to put the game out of reach several times. But Auburn did just enough to keep things close for the first 30 minutes.
A Rasheem Barrett jumper tied the score at 52 with 9:52 to play.
On Arkansas’ next possession, forward Sonny Weems snapped the tie with a jumper from just behind the free-throw line. The shot gave the Razorbacks a 54-52 lead.
Meanwhile, Auburn’s offense went cold. The Tigers missed five of seven shots over the next four minutes
Arkansas took advantage of AU’s offensive struggles: Consecutive 3-pointers by Patrick Beverly and Sonny Weems gave the Razorbacks a 60-53 edge.
But Auburn wasn’t finished. A Tolbert 3-pointer and two Prowell free throws cut Arkansas’ lead to 67-65 with 3:42 left.
Arkansas extended its lead to 5 points before Tolbert’s free throws set up AU’s near-comeback.
Auburn actually outrebounded the Razorbacks, 33-32, despite a four-guard lineup that featured the 6-foot-4 Tolbert at power forward. Tolbert said the explanation for AU’s relative rebounding success was simple.
“It’s pride,” he said. “If you let your man get a rebound, it feels like you’re letting your team down.”
Barrett scored 21 points to lead Auburn. Tolbert (17 points), Prowell (13) and reserve Lucas Hargrove (10) also scored in double figures.
Auburn plays at defending national champion Florida at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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