LITTLE ROCK — Thanks for joining us for our little live blogging experience. While the game is going on, you can read the Arkansas News Bureau’s most distinguished columnist — Sports columnist Harry King — and the youngblood, Zack Stovall, managing the commentary on the website.

ESPN’s Box Score

Harry’s Take on the First Half: The Hogs seem to be more aggressive on defense. They’re playing a lot more zone than I remember them playing in previous games, and this isn’t your sit-in-the-zone type of defense either. They’re attacking the shooters, and only letting Bama — Alonzo Gee, specifically — get behind with a clear shot to the basket a few times.

But Rotnei Clarke has been the difference. I’ve said all along, what Arkansas has lacked has been the most fundamental element in the game, and that’s shooting. Clarke has taken plenty of great shots from beyond the arc, but I’m also impressed with his ability and tenacity inside. Jason Henry’s 7 points from the bench is also valuable. If the Hogs hope to win, they’ll need shooting as successful as it was in the first half.

Harry’s Take on the Second Half: It’s a simple formula; get out in front and make your free throws, and the Hogs executed that formula very well. I was impressed with Michael Sanchez’s contribution. Sanchez averages around five points a game, but tonight had thirteen, five of which were free throws.

Rotnei Clarke’s second half performance was also impressive, and his play over all is the headline of the game. It’s good for Arkansas to finally get the monkey off their back by getting their first W in conference play.

Zack’s Take on the First Half: Ditto, to Harry. Rotnei Clarke is the obvious player of the first half, so I’d look for the Bama defense to keep closer tabs on hot-handed freshman. Clarke’s defense has been impressive as well, as he’s been actively going after the ball, even grabbing himself a steal and a break away that resulted in two made foul shots, Clarke’s bread and butter.

All of the attention on Clarke might open up new opportunities for other Razorback players — elbow, elbow, hint, hint Mr. Fortson, Mr. Sanchez. But as Harry has labored ad nauseum, Arkansas needs to keep the shooting going and going well to have a chance. Bama has been closing their fast breaks very well.

Zack’s Take on the Second Half: Defense, defense, defense seemed to be the story as Arkansas created a large lead in the beginning of the second half, and the story as the lead diminished towards the end of the half while the game was still in doubt. Arkansas’ aggressive zone defense left Alabama around the three point line, a lonely place the Tide did not want to stay in for very long. When it that trenchant zone D was gone, replaced by a man defense strategy, the lead was greatly diminished.

The help from the Arkansas defense kept Alabama at bay, but it was the explosiveness of Rotnei Clarke combined with the support of Sanchez and company that sealed the deal for the Hogs. Fortson quietly amassed an impressive nine assists and three steals, while Stefan Welch struggled to find a rhythm, but still made two 3s. This tenacious defense and spry offense is what Razorback fans have been looking for ever since that game against the Longhorns, and it is what they’ll be needing if they hope to get their second conference victory.

GAME NOTES

• Tip-off goes to the Crimson Tide.
• Nice dish from Fortson to Sanchez to draw first blood.
• A quick shot matches the scores, 2 -2.
• After a quick play down the court, Michael Washington shows off the hook shot, 4 – 2.
• Another quick play by Washington to make it 6 – 2.
• Rotnei Clarke takes a quick three for a brick, 3 – 18 in his conference play, so says ESPN.
• I looked down for a split second and Bama scores a three, intercepts the in-bound for an easy lay-up.
• Bama, down by six, made a quick turn around to take a one-point lead at the first time out, 9 – 8 with 15:00 left in the first half.
• J. Michael Green pulls a play out of the four-square playbook, tossing in a quick bucket after a tremendous bounce.
• 11 – 10 Bama with 13:09 in the first half.
• ESPN is showing the Courtney Fortson wigs. Oh la la. Where were these during the Holidays?
• Rotnei Clarke makes a three, putting Arkansas up by two, 13 -11.
• After missing a three, Clarke picks up a loose ball for an easy lay-up with his fifth point of the game.
• Hogs are up 15 – 11, 11:54 left.
• Harry King recognizes that the defense is helping out a little more so far this game, being more active, and not letting Bama take easy shots.
• Long shot by Washington, proving he’s more than just an inside threat.
• Clarke has a little razzle-dazzle as he moves inside again, 19 – 13 Hogs.
• Rotnei is running around like a man possessed; shooting within the arc, and running around on defense, tossing passes out of bounds and even getting a steal with a foul.
• Arkansas has a 22 – 13 lead, the largest margin of the night, with 9:50 left in the half.
• The commentators give notice about the ice storm that is devastating NW Arkansas.
• A no-look pass tops of impressive passing, but there are no points for passing, unfortunately; Welsh lays a brick.
• 7:57 left in the first, Hogs are up 22 – 16.
• Rotnei Clarke has been subpar with regard to shooting the past few weeks, but one has to admire his resilience to keep going to take the deep shot, or making nice moves in the pant. He is a freshman after all, but has plenty of confidence which is commendable.
• Washington takes his third long shot of the game; it doesn’t drop, but at least he’s taking the shots Bama is giving him.
• Sanchez tosses one up for a basket, 26 – 21 Hogs.
• Clarke takes advantage of a fast-break and does what he was recruited to do: drain the long three, legitimizing the deep threat.
• Ditto, this time 31 – 21 Hogs.
• Anthony Brock — a Little Rock native — scores for Bama to make is 34 – 25 with the Hogs on top with 3:34 left in the first half.
  
• ESPN recognizes a noticeable lack in depth by referencing Stephen Cox’s former sport at the University — golf.
• With 1:50 left in the first, there’s only a five point lead now, 34 – 29.
• Michael Sanchez at the free throw line is 50 percent to make it 35 – 29, with 1:20 left in the first.
• Jason Henry throws up a nice three to end the half, 38 – 31, with the Razorbacks in the lead.
• HALF TIME
• The second half starts like the first; Fortson to Sanchez for a hard earned two points.
• Michael Washington goes to the free-throw line to make it 41 – 36, Hogs.
• Welsh knocks down three, followed by a Bama brick, the Welsh goes to the free throw line after a quick trip back down to the home end; Hogs are up 46 – 38 with 17:07 in the game.
• Anything you can do I can do better… A tenacious Tide seems to follow up every Hog point with another quick break.
• Rotnei makes another three, but it is quickly answered by Alabama.
• Big jam cuts the lead to 49 – 44.
• Fortson makes his presence known by a nice steal and a dish to Clarke.
• Another big three from Rotnei, a brick from Bama, and a triple teamed Michael Washington forces the ball in.
• Rotnei Clarke has a career-high 20 points, leading the Hogs 54 – 44 with 14:55 left in the game, as Alabama takes a time out.
• Arkansas’ zone defense seems to be working aggressively, keeping the Tide on the perimeter, and forcing them to take ugly 3s to no avail.
• Washington beautifully blocks a quick shot after the zone defense collapsed following an errant three.
• Fortson serves to an open Rotnei Clarke, which hits the rim and falls for three.
• Washington squares up and takes a nice shot, his thirteenth of the game.
• Alabama wisely puts a shadow man on Rotnei Clarke.
• An interesting stat: Rotnei Clarke had 19 points in four combined SEC games; he has 23 tonight.
• 61 – 49 Hogs up with 10:32 left in the game.
• Rotnei’s shadow take’s a quick nap on the job, and Clarke drains another three.
• Alabama follows with another three; unable to penetrate the paint, Arkansas will likely let Bama have those shots all night.
• With 9:50 left in the game, Arkansas leads by ten, 64 – 54.
• Fortson, for a lack of points, has done well with assists (9) and a couple of steals.
• Easy there hot dog: After a Fortson steal, a missed dunk is followed by a quick return for Alabama. Way to make the highlight reel.
• The ESPN commentary is critical of Fortson’s arc on free throws, as he drains two. Must be constructive criticism.
• The zone is working still; three consecutive missed shots by Bama outside the line.
• Fortson has another dish to Jason Henry, who almost blows the score, but Washington cleans up for the score to make it 72 – 60.
• ESPN commentary sinks to a new low, donning the Courtney Fortson wig. Yikes.
• Alabama is finding most of its starters in foul trouble, opening up soft lanes for Arkansas.
• Welch drains another three, his second of the game.
• Alonzo Gee is keeping Alabama in the game kicking and screaming, now only down by eight, 75 – 67.
• Michael Washington misses a dunk, the second blown gimme of the game. Is that goal regulation size or what?
• The no-look pass from an impressive steal from Fortson turns up two for Bama after a fast break.
• The zone seems to be non-existent, and the score reveals it; 75 – 69 now.
• Alabama seems to want to put Sanchez at the free throw line; he takes advantage for his tenth and eleventh point of the game.
• Welch turns the ball over with just under three minutes left in the game.
• Washington makes his free throws to make it 79 – 71 with two minutes even in the game.
• Big Tree Fall Hard, and Sanchez goes to the free throw line again, making both and four straight, to make it 81 – 71 with 1:42 left in the game.
• Off-ball foul on Fortson, who is fervently running around, causing problems for the Alabama defense, and adds to free throws.
• With 38 seconds left in the game, Fortson is fouled at will, and goes back to the foul line to add to the lead, 87 – 75.
• The crowd begins to boo as Alabama begins to foul out the rest of the game, as Marcus Britt adds two more.
• Rotnei Clarke comes in with 18 seconds left to a large applause.
• Game closes out with Arkansas getting their first conference victory, 89 – 80 against the Crimson Tide of Alabama.