Manjon scores 22, hits late FTs to help Vanderbilt beat Arkansas 85-82
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Ezra Manjon scored 22 points, including two free throws with three seconds left, Tyrin Lawrence added 21 points and Ven-Allen Lubin had his third double-double of the season to help Vanderbilt beat Arkansas 85-82 Tuesday night and end a three-game skid.
Lubin finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds and Paul Lewis scored 11 points for Vanderbilt (8-20, 3-12 SEC). The Commodores — who went into the game shooting 39.0% from the field, No. 346 out of 351 Division I programs — shot a season-high 51% (29 of 57) and scored more than 78 points for the first time this season.
Manjon and Lewis each hit a 3-pointer in a 17-4 run that gave Vanderbilt a 69-53 lead with 6:07 to play. El Ellis scored 10 points and Khalif Battle added a three-point play and a 3-pointer in a 22-9 spurt over the next four minutes as the Razorbacks trimmed their deficit to 78-75.
Manjon made with a layup with 1:48 remaining, Battle answered with two free throws and Lubin converted a three-point play to make it a six-point game with 20 seconds left. Tramon Mark hit two foul shots six seconds later, Ellis stole a pass to set up a 3 by Battle that made it 83-82 with five seconds left but Manjon hit two free throws and Mark's potential tying 3 at the buzzer was no good.
Battle, who scored a career-high 42 in a win over Missouri last time out, led Arkansas (14-14, 5-10) with 36 points, 21 in the second half. Ellis finished with 19 and Mark 15.
Arkansas scored the first seven points and jumped to a 20-10 lead — including 11 points by Battle — when Jeremiah Davenport hit a 3 with 12:46 left in the first half. The Razorbacks went 0-for-9 from the field with three turnovers over the next seven-plus minutes as Vanderbilt made it a one-possession game before Ellis made a layup that gave Arkansas a 27-23 lead with 5:04 remaining. Manjon made a jumper and layup before Roberts gave the Commodores their first lead with two free throws more than a minute later. Lubin made a layup before Manjon capped a 10-0 spurt with a jumper that made it 33-27 with a minute to go.
Arkansas had won back-to-back games for the first time since the Razorbacks beat Lipscomb, Abilene Christian and UNC Wilmington to wrap up nonconference play.
Vanderbilt has three in a row against the Razorbacks, including back-to-back wins at Arkansas for the first time.
Vanderbilt plays host to LSU on Saturday. Arkansas hits the road to play Saturday at No. 16 Kentucky.
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