Arkansasrazorbacks.com
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.
With the game tied at 83, Darius Acuff Jr. was the answer for the Hogs, immediately responding with personal 7-0 run with back-to-back layups and a 3-pointer to lead 90-83.
After a Cam’Ron Fletcher basket, Malique Ewin sank two free throws. Braden Hausen gave HPU some hope with a long 3-pointer to make the score 92-88 with nine seconds left. However, Acuff put the game away with two free throws with eight ticks left to provide the 94-88 final and send the Hogs to San Jose for the Sweet 16 next weekend.
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.
