FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Delvon Johnson scored 17 points, 11 in the second half, to lead Arkansas to a 68-65 win over Tennessee on Saturday.
The Razorbacks led by one at halftime and as many as 13 in the second half before holding on late to win their Southeastern Conference opener. Rotnei Clarke added 15 points and Marshawn Powell 14 for Arkansas (11-3).
The game was Tennessee's first without coach Bruce Pearl, who is suspended for the first eight conference games for misleading NCAA investigators during an ongoing probe into recruiting. The Volunteers (10-5, 0-1) rallied late to cut Arkansas' lead to as little as two in the closing minutes, but Tobias Harris misfired on an attempted game-tying 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
Harris led Tennessee, which was coming off a convincing win over No. 21 Memphis on Wednesday, with 21 points.