FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- After winning its first four games by an average of 35 points, No. 20 Illinois hit the road for the first time Saturday and barely escaped with a 62-58 victory over Arkansas.
New Arkansas Coach Stan Heath had the Razorbacks primed for an upset, especially since Illinois (5-0) was in position for a letdown after a 92-65 rout of North Carolina on Tuesday.
Arkansas (1-4) was smarting from a 74-66 loss to Troy State of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Tuesday.
But the Razorbacks were no pushover on Saturday for Illinois. Trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, Arkansas fought back and pulled within one on the strength of a 16-3 run and had a chance to take the lead.
With Illinois nursing a 59-58 advantage, freshman guard Eric Ferguson drove to the basket for Arkansas, but his layup off the backboard rolled off the rim with 14 seconds left and the Razorbacks fouled Brian Cook.
Cook made just 1-of-2 free throws with 12 seconds remaining, increasing Illinois' lead to 60-58. Arkansas had a chance to tie or take the lead, but never got a shot off. Ferguson spotted Dionisio Gomez ahead of the field after Cook's miss on the second free throw, but his pass sailed out of bounds.
Freshman guard Dee Brown then sealed the game with a pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds left for Illinois.
