Freshman Nick Smith Jr. scored 22 points for his collegiate high as Arkansas struggled to a 65-58 win over UNC Greensboro Tuesday night in Fayetteville, Ark.

The No. 9 Razorbacks (8-1) failed to get to the 70-point mark for the first time this season and shot a season-low 33.3 percent from the field. After scoring a season-low 21 points in the first half, they avoided the upset on the strength of a 44-32 second half.

Makhi Mitchell added 13 points, Anthony Black 11, and Davonte Davis 10 for the Hogs but Ricky Council IV, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference with a 19.8 average, managed only eight points, all in the second half.

Trevon Brazile was scoreless after leaving the game with an apparent knee injury in the first half.

Donovan Atwell led the Spartans (4-6) with 12 points while Dante Treacy added 11 and Kobe Langley 10.

The Razorbacks overcame a five-point halftime deficit in the first five minutes of the second half and took their first lead since holding a 6-5 edge when Black's corner 3-pointer put them up 34-33 at the 15:48 mark.

But the lead didn't last long. Atwell hit consecutive 3-pointers and Mikeal Brown Jones' fast-break layup quickly put the Spartans back in front 41-36.

The Hogs regained the lead when Council scored his first field goal to make it a 45-44 game. They pulled out to a 54-49 cushion on Black's 3-pointer with 3:09 left, but a minute later Langley drilled a long 3-pointer to get the Spartans within a basket entering the final two minutes.

The Razorbacks held a seven-point lead, their biggest of the game, with 1:29 left, and it was a four-point game entering the final minute. Council sealed the win with two free throws with 19.4 seconds left to give the Hogs a 63-58 lead.

Both teams struggled with their shooting. The Razorbacks finished 18-of-54 (33.3 percent) overall and 3-of-18 on 3s while the Spartans were 21-of-67 overall (31.3) and 9-of-28 on 3-pointers.

The Hogs held a 47-39 advantage in rebounding but made 12 turnovers to the Spartans' nine.

--Field Level Media