Ninth-seeded Arkansas held on to beat 16th-seeded South Carolina 72-68 Wednesday in the SEC tournament after nearly losing a 20-point lead.

Trevon Brazile had 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, Johnell Davis scored six key points in the final 40 seconds and No. 9 seed Arkansas nearly blew a 20-point lead before holding off No. 16 seed South Carolina 72-68 to begin the SEC Tournament.

The University of Arkansas men’s basketball team survived and advanced Wednesday at the SEC Tournament. Eleven days after an embarrassing loss at South Carolina, the Razorbacks nearly blew a 20-point lead against the Gamecocks but held on for a 72-68 first-round victory at Bridgestone Arena.