It was the play of the game.

With one second on the clock and the University of Arkansas men's basketball team clinging to a 93-92 lead, Riley Kugel attempted a short jumper for the Mississippi State win but freshman Billy Richmond III made his second block of the game, just his 13th of the season, and the Razorbacks escaped.

Richmond, who averaged one block every 47 minutes of playing time this season, capped a crazy game that had 16 lead changes and seven ties.

Arkansas led 70-54 with 11:41 to play but went cold faster than an Alaskan snow storm. After opening the second half hitting 10 of its first 12 shots, the Razorbacks managed only eight of their next 16 and won it on a free throw.

With 27 seconds to play and the score tied 92-92, Trevon Brazile missed a layup but Jonas Aidoo grabbed the rebound and passed it to Johnell Davis, who quickly got it to D.J. Wagner. He found Aidoo with 11 seconds to play and he was fouled.

Aidoo made 1 of 2 free throws which left Richmond, whose dad played for John Calipari at Memphis for three seasons, standing between the thrill of winning and the agony of losing the last home game of the regular season.

It was a team effort and there were so many players in the spotlight it would be impossible to recall every key play in one column.

Consider that Aidoo came off the bench early when Brazile got two quick fouls. The senior transfer from Tennessee played up to his preseason hype.

Aidoo, who seemed to be nursing a nagging foot or leg problem for much of the season, was an All-SEC player for the Volunteers, but coming into Saturday's game he was averaging just 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

He averaged 16.5 minutes playing time until he was needed against Mississippi State when he logged 32 minutes, scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Consider that Wagner, who transferred from Kentucky, played 38 minutes, scored 24 points and had 5 assists.

Consider that Brazile played the entire second half when he scored all 11 of his points.

Consider that for Arkansas to survive and pick up a very valuable Quad 2 win it took unselfish, hard-nosed play, and when the game finally ended, with a sold-out crowd on its feet, the Razorbacks had 21 team assists on 31 field goals.

It was the type of effort they had to have because Mississippi State refused to let them get in transition, forcing the Razorbacks into a half-court game. They ran their usual pick and roll enough to overcome giving up 19 points off turnovers.

Consider Davis and Aidoo never let up even though they finished the game with four fouls each; one thing the Hogs can't afford with a seven-man rotation is for someone to foul out.

The win should have put the Razorbacks in the NCAA Tournament, but we won't know that for sure until after the SEC Tournament.

It left them at 19-12 for the season and 8-10 in SEC play after a 0-5 start against league foes. Arkansas finished in a four-way tie for ninth place with Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt, and it swept those three during the regular season so it will take the No. 9 seed.

The Razorbacks will play in the first game of the SEC Tournament at noon Central on Wednesday with a chance to avenge their most recent loss, 72-53 at South Carolina.

So Saturday's win was huge for postseason play. Despite blowing a 16-point lead, the Razorbacks won four of their last five games, two against ranked teams.

If they don't move ahead of Texas in the NCAA Evaluation Tool rankings then that tool needs reevaluation as part of its criteria the selection committee uses.