Arkansas' run ends in Sweet 16 loss to UConn

March 23, 2023

LAS VEGAS –

Arkansas’ run in NCAA Tournament ended in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night against a hot-shooting UConn team 88-65 at T-Mobile Arena.

The Huskies, seeded fourth and ranked #10/12, used a 14-0 run midway through the first half and never looked back UConn shot 57.4% from the field, including 45% from deep. The Huskies were able to play to their strengths all night, grabbing 43 rebounds and scoring 42 points in the paint., while dishing out 22 assists on 31 made baskets.

Anthony Black led the Razorbacks with 20 points and while steals, while and Ricky Council IV chipped in 17 and Nick Smith Jr., had 11.

Jordan Hawkins led all scorers with 24 points for UConn while big man Adama Sanogo scored 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Two Huskies, Tristen Newton and Andre Jackson Jr., each had seven assists.

Arkansas ends the season 22-14 with the team’s third straight trip to the Sweet 16.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 29 – UConn: 46

Anthony Black scored Arkansas’ first five points, including a driving layup for a 3-point play for the team’s first points.
UConn used a 14-0 run midway through the second half to turn a 3-point game into a 17-point lead (34-17) with 7:42 left.
UConn shot 60.7% from the field and dominated the glass, 22-9.
Nick Smith Jr., led Arkansas with nine points and Kamani Johnson had four of the team’s nine rebounds, including three offensive boards.
Eight Huskies scored in the half, including 10 from Jordan Hawkins.
Arkansas closed the first half by holding UConn to no field goals over the final 3:54.
Neither team missed a free throw in the opening half, Arkansas was a perfect 6-for-6 and UConn went 8-for-8.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 36 – UConn: 42

UConn opened the second half with a 16-5 run to open up a 29-point lead.
Arkansas answered with a 10-0 run, but it was shut down thanks to three straight 3-pointers from the Huskies.
The Huskies would maintain at least a 20-point lead the rest of the way.
Arkansas was able to outrebound the Huskies, 22-21, in the second half. Also, Arkansas only committed six turnovers, while forcing 11.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Nick Smith Jr. – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council IV – Kamani Johnson for the fourth time. That lineup was 3-1 this season (all in the postseason).
UConn won the tip.
Alex Karaban (UConn) scored the first points of the game, a put-back at 18:53. Anthony Black scored the first points for Arkansas, an old-fashion, 3-point play at 18:00.
Jordan Walsh was the first Razorback sub.
Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh set a Razorback freshman record by playing in 36 games. Black started all 36. In fact, he was the only Razorback to start all 36 games this season.,
Black had five steals giving him 74 for the season, padding his own school record for most by a Razorback freshman. He also played an Arkansas freshman-record 1,23 minutes.
Ricky Council IV was 8-of-9 from the free throw line. He was 173-218 at the line for the season. His 173 makes ranks 8th on the Razorback single-season list and his 218 attempts fell three shy of the Razorback season top 10.
Arkansas had two blocked shots in the game and 182 for the season. The 182 rejections rank 6th on the school’s single-season list.
Eric Musselman is 8-3 as Razorback head coach in the NCAA Tournament and is 25-13 in all postseason games for his collegiate career.
This was Davonte Davis’ 11th NCAA Tournament game, and he is 8-3 in such games. He scored double figures in seven of the 11.
Arkansas is 50-35 in NCAA Tournament games and 8-6 in Sweet 16 games.
This was just the second time Arkansas has reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in at least three straight seasons. The other time was a four-year stretch in 1996 (Sweet 16), ’95 (National Runner-up), ’94 (National Champion) and ‘93 (Sweet 16).
Arkansas, Houston, UCLA and Gonzaga are the only three teams to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 in each of the last three seasons.

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