Hogs survive High Point, advance to Sweet 16

PORTLAND, Ore. – Arkansas survived an upset-minded, 12-seed High Point on Saturday night inside the Moda Center to advance to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in six years and second-straight year under Head Coach John Calipari with a 94-88 victory.

The two teams lit up the scoreboard all night with 15 lead changes, including 10 in the second half, but the Razorbacks finally began to get separation late in the game when a Meleek Thomas 3-pointer found the bottom of the net for a four-point lead with 6:11 remaining. The Panthers, however, responded with a Rob Martin 5-point run to tie the game for the sixth time with just over three minutes left on the clock. Darius Acuff Jr. was the answer for the Hogs, immediately responding with a layup to spark a 9-3 run to end the game and send Arkansas to the Sweet 16 next weekend in San Jose, Calif.

Acuff’s talent was on full display in the win as the SEC Player of the Year made clutch play after clutch play down the stretch. The freshman poured in 36 points to go with six assists on the night he broke Todd Day’s single-season scoring record. Acuff now owns the Arkansas school record for points and assists in a single season after breaking Kareem Reid’s program mark during Thursday’s win over Hawai’i. Acuff’s 60 points (24 points vs. Hawai’i) in his first two NCAA Tournament games are the most ever by a freshman in two games in the tournament. He led four Hogs in double figures, including Malique Ewin who posted his second straight double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas scored 19 fueled by 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. The freshman scored 10 of his 19 in the first half. Billy Richmond III chipped in a double-double of his own with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with 10 rebounds.

Martin was sensational for High Point with 30 points with five assists while Cam’Ron Fletch added 25 points and eight boards off the bench. Sharpshooter Chase Johnston was held in check by the Arkansas defense with nine points. Leading scorer Terry Anderson added 15 points and eight assists.

Check back later for a full recap and interviews with Coach Calipari and student-athletes.