AUBURN, Ala. – Jamal Johnson scored a career-high 21 points but Auburn fell to unbeaten Arkansas 97-85 Wednesday in the SEC opener at Auburn Arena, snapping the Tigers' five-game win streak.
"Arkansas was fast and quick and we just couldn't keep them in front," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "We did not do a very good job with our individual defense and struggled to turn them over."
Arkansas (9-0, 1-0) used a late 10-0 run to take control after a pair of Allen Flanigan free throws tied the game at 74-74 with 7:30 to play. Flanigan scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.
Johnson made 5 of 7 3-pointers, besting his previous career mark of 18 points.
"Our main goal is to win the SEC regular season championship," said Johnson, one of only two juniors in Auburn's 10-player rotation. "The career high was great, but I want to win, our whole team and our coaching staff want to win."
Gallery: (12-30-2020) Auburn vs. Arkansas
Devan Cambridge made 5 of 6 3-pointers to account for his season-high 15 points. Jaylin Williams also reached double figures, scoring 13.
Justin Powell distributed nine assists, half of Auburn's total, while adding six rebounds.
Powell assisted on consecutive baskets – a Dylan Cardwell dunk and a Johnson 3-pointer – in a 5-0 run that trimmed Arkansas' lead to 71-69. JT Thor assisted on Cambridge's fifth 3-pointer to again pull the Tigers within two points before Flanigan's game-tying free throws.
Auburn turnovers were costly down the stretch as the Razorbacks pulled away. The Tigers committed 19 turnovers while forcing only 10, leading to a 27-11 Arkansas advantage in points off turnovers.
"They took better care of the basketball than we did and that's why they got out of here with a win," Pearl said. "It's great to have the size and the length that we have, but only if you can utilize that size and length by blocking shots or helping more defensively.
"We do know what's ailing us. We've got to get guys to rotate over and help each other, take charges and block shots, strip and rip and make plays defensively."
Auburn trailed 47-41 at halftime after making 9 of 17 3-pointers in the first half. The Tigers were 15-for-29 on 3-pointers for the game, a 51.7 percent clip.
Arkansas led 32-22 with 9:30 left in the half before Auburn went on a 14-2 run. Cambridge and Powell made 3-pointers, and Powell passed in transition to Williams for a dunk before Johnson's 3-pointer from the top of the key tied it at 34-34.
Arkansas then used a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead. Desi Sills led all scorers with 23 points for the Razorbacks.
The Tigers (6-3, 0-1) travel to College Station, Texas, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT to face Texas A&M in Auburn's first conference road game.
"We've got to get a lot better to be able to win SEC games," Pearl said. "But I think we learned a lot."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Auburn drops SEC opener, Johnson scores career high
Dec 30, 2020; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Jamal Johnson (1) and guard Justin Powell (24) reacts during during the game between Auburn and Arkansas at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood/AU Athletics