NOAH TRISTER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Rotnei Clarke scored 26 points, breaking out of a shooting slump to help Arkansas beat Alabama, 89-80, Thursday night.

The Razorbacks snapped a four-game losing streak and spoiled the debut of Philip Pearson, the Crimson Tide’s interim coach. Pearson took over for Mark Gottfried, who resigned Monday.

Clarke had made only three 3-pointers in Arkansas’ first four Southeastern Conference games. He made six against Alabama (12-8, 2-4), including four in the second half.

The Razorbacks (13-5, 1-4) led by only three early in the second but pulled away with four quick 3-pointers. Welsh made the first and Clarke made the next three, giving him five for the game and putting Arkansas ahead 57-44.

Clarke’s sixth 3 of the game — from the left corner — made it 64-51.

Jamychal Green scored 24 points for Alabama and Alonzo Gee added 18.

The Crimson Tide cut the deficit to 6 in the final minutes and had the ball but couldn’t close the gap. Michael Washington drew a foul inside and made two free throws for Arkansas to make it 79-71.

Washington scored 17 points and Michael Sanchez added 13 for the Razorbacks. Courtney Fortson had 8 points and nine assists.

Arkansas was coming off a 73-51 loss to Auburn, the Razorbacks’ most lopsided defeat at Fayetteville’s Bud Walton Arena, which opened in 1993. Ironically, the Hogs beat Alabama without much of a home crowd. The area has been hit by winter weather in recent days, and although the announced attendance was 14,157, there were plenty of empty seats even in the lower level.

Clarke entered the game shooting 28 percent from the field in SEC play, but his 14 first-half points helped the Razorbacks to a 38-31 lead at intermission.

Seldom-used guard Anthony Brock provided a spark toward the end of the half for Alabama with a pair of baskets and a nice pass to Gee for a dunk.