By Chip Souza
Arkansas News Bureau • csouza@nwaonline.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Howard Crawford rolled off the screen at the top of the key and couldn’t believe what he saw. Or rather what he didn’t see.
Arkansas defender Mike Washington got caught in a perfectly executed screen by Alabama Birmingham’s Elijah Millsap on an inbound play that sprung Crawford free resulting in a game-winning dunk in UAB’s 73-72 win Saturday in Bud Walton Arena in front of 5,779 fans.
“I was shocked I was that wide open,” Crawford, who finished with 13 points, said.
With 2.2 seconds left, UAB called a time out with the ball under its own basket to set up the final play. After Arkansas called a timeout, the No. 24 Blazers (12-2) ran a high screen play up top to perfection.
Millsap, who led the Blazers with 22 points, set a screen on Washington that freed Crawford. Before the final play, UAB coach Mike Davis said there was a debate among Blazers coaches on who should get the final shot.
Crawford said he never doubted who’d get the last shot.
“I was definitely going to take the last shot,” Crawford said.
The loss was a tough one for Arkansas (7-7), which hosts No. 2 Texas on Tuesday in its final nonconference game. The Razorbacks led by five 70-65 with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left, but could not hold on at the end.
“I thought that we fought hard on both sides of the floor,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “They just won the last play.”
Arkansas had a chance to put the game away with seven seconds left and leading 72-71, but junior Jemal Farmer missed an open mid-range jumper from the right wing.
“We had an opportunity with the ball and got a good look at it, but couldn’t put it down,” Pelphrey said. “They executed (the last play) better than we defended.”
After Farmer’s miss, UAB raced down the floor before calling time out with 2.2 seconds left.
“We thought we could get a shot in transition, but (Arkansas) did a good job of getting back,” Davis said.
Washington had a solid game for the Razorbacks, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots. His play was inspiring especially considering his battle with injuries this season. Washington did not start in Arkansas’ 70-47 loss to Baylor earlier this week, but did play some in the second half of the game.
When asked about his health status, Pelphrey said the 6-foot-9 senior was “minute to minute.”
Freshman Marshawn Powell played a huge role for the Razorbacks and finished with a team-high 22 points. His free throw with 2:30 left gave the Hogs a 70-65 lead and he later added two more free throws for a 72-69 lead.
Davis said the Razorbacks are close to being a good team.
“I think that Arkansas has gotten better as a team,” Davis said. “They fought hard the entire game and are playing harder for longer stretches. There isn’t a big difference between a lot of teams.”
Davis also said Arkansas current three-game stretch, which ends Tuesday against No. 2 Texas, would be as tough as the Razorbacks would face this season.
“Arkansas won’t play a tougher stretch of games than they are going through now,” Davis said. “(Southeastern Conference play) might be as tough, but nothing tougher.”
Arkansas led by 11 points twice in the first half behind the scoring of Powell, Washington and Rotnei Clarke. Clarke finished with 16 points. UAB rallied to ourscore Arkansas 15-2 over a six-minute span in the first half and led 39-31 at the half.
Arkansas opened the second half with a 7-0 run to pull within 39-38 and it was close the rest of the way.
