FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tramon Mark scored a career-high 35 points and made a shot with one second left to help Arkansas to a 78-77 victory over Texas A&M at Bud Walton Arena Tuesday night.
The win marks the Razorbacks' first in league play this season.
Mark played a team-high 35 minutes and finished 8 of 15 (53.3%) from the field and 2 of 3 behind the arc. He also made 17 of 22 free throw attempts to go along with 5 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Entering the contest, the Razorbacks (10-7, 1-3 SEC) lost their last three league games by an average of 21.3 points per game – much of that resulted from poor shooting, making just 36.3% of their shots during that stretch.
The game against the Aggies (10-7, 1-3) was a different story in the first half as Texas A&M started sluggish after its emphatic overtime victory against No. 6 Kentucky last Saturday.
And Arkansas took advantage.
Confident, energized, and together, the Razorbacks jumped all over the Aggies right out of the gate, making six of their first 10 shots to take a commanding 15-3 lead with 12:56 to play in the first half.
El Ellis finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for the Razorbacks, while Trevon Brazile added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block.
Arkansas shot 53.8% from the field in the first half and made 5 of 10 three-pointers, but things turned for the worst.
After leading 46-32 at the half, the Razorbacks' offense fell flat – missing their first 11 shots to start the second half.
The shooting spell allowed the Aggies to climb back and erase a 20-point deficit to take a one-point lead with seven seconds thanks to Wade Taylor IV's monster 41-point performance.
The Hogs shot 39.2% as a team and held Texas A&M to 32.4% from the floor.
Arkansas returns to action against South Carolina on Saturday. Coverage from Bud Walton Arena begins at noon on the SEC Network.