COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Arkansas Builds a Lead Big Enough to Hold Up : SEC: This time, Razorbacks survive Auburn comeback for a 30-28 victory.

Finally, Arkansas built a lead sufficient to survive Auburn in the fourth quarter. But barely.

Arkansas led, 27-0, at halftime and, 30-13, after three quarters, then held on to win, 30-28, Saturday night as Auburn fell short of its third consecutive fourth-quarter comeback against the Razorbacks.

“In the first half we played as well as we are capable of playing,” Arkansas Coach Danny Ford said. “Our offense moved the ball, our defense was outstanding and our kicking game was superb.”

Patrick Nix threw his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter, a two-yarder to Erick Lowe with 18 seconds left, then combined with the same receiver on the two-point conversion to pull the Tigers within two points.

No. 11-ranked Auburn got another chance after recovering the onside kick, and Nix completed an 18-yard pass to Willie Gosha. But the Tigers were out of timeouts and Matt Hawkins’ 52-yard field-goal attempt was tipped by Junior Soli.

“We played as well in the second half as we did poorly in the first half,” Auburn Coach Terry Bowden said. “We got so far behind, we could not come back and win.”

Last year, Arkansas led Auburn, 14-10, after three quarters and lost, 31-14. The year before, Auburn outscored Arkansas, 14-7, in the fourth quarter and won by 10.

Arkansas, 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference, took control of the SEC Western Division race behind Barry Lunney’s two touchdown passes, a school-record 45 carries by Madre Hill and three field goals by Todd Latourette. His 44-yarder with 8:21 left in the third quarter accounted for Arkansas’ only points of the second half but provided the difference.

The Razorbacks, who have not had a winning season since joining the SEC in 1992, can reach the Dec. 2 league championship game by beating Mississippi State at Little Rock next week or LSU at Baton Rouge on Nov. 18.

Auburn (5-3, 3-3) did not cross the Arkansas 25 in the first half and suffered three turnovers in the first 25 minutes.

Auburn dominated after halftime, Nix going 26 for 38.