Arkansas overcame a 4:20 scoring drought in the second half and responded to a 12-2 Kansas run that gave the Jayhawks a 67-64 lead by scoring seven unanswered points. The Razorbacks then held on to defeat Kansas 79-72 in the NCAA Tournament’s First Round at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Thursday night.
The victory marked head coach John Calipari’s 58th NCAA Tournament win (58-22 in 24 appearances), making him the winningest active coach in tournament history, surpassing Kansas’ Bill Self. He now ranks sixth all-time behind coaching legends Mike Krzyzewski (101), Roy Williams (79), Dean Smith (65), and Jim Boeheim (62).
After a fast-paced first half, where both teams combined for 91 points, the second half turned into a defensive battle, with just 60 total points scored. Arkansas entered halftime with a three-point lead, powered by Jonas Aidoo’s 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting. The Razorbacks then extended their advantage to 11 points with an 8-0 run to start the second half. However, Kansas switched to a zone defense, slowing Arkansas’ offense and allowing the Jayhawks to climb back. The Razorbacks managed only two points during a nearly five-minute span, enabling Kansas to reclaim the lead.
Boogie Fland snapped the scoring drought with a layup, igniting Arkansas’ decisive 7-0 run. Aidoo’s free throws put the Razorbacks ahead for good with 2:14 remaining. Johnell Davis extended the lead to four with a clutch three-pointer, and despite Kansas pulling within two, Arkansas sealed the win by making eight consecutive free throws down the stretch.
Aidoo led all scorers with a season-high 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Trevon Brazile recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Davis contributed 18 points, including four three-pointers. D.J. Wagner added 14 points, scoring 12 in the first half.
For Kansas, Zeki Mayo paced the team with 18 points and four three-pointers, while standout big man Hunter Dickinson was limited to 11 points, all of which came in the first half.
Arkansas will face No. 2 seed and fifth-ranked St. John’s in the NCAA Second Round. The game is scheduled for 2:40 p.m. ET (1:40 p.m. CT) and will air on CBS.
First Half Recap: Arkansas 47, Kansas 44
- Arkansas led for 9:45, while Kansas held the lead for 6:53. There were seven ties and eight lead changes.
- Aidoo’s 16 points helped Arkansas outscore Kansas 24-12 in the paint. He also tallied three blocked shots.
- Wagner contributed 12 points and three assists, while Fland also had three assists.
- The Razorbacks shot 54.3% from the field and were a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
- Kansas kept pace by making 6-of-11 three-pointers (54.5%) and shot 43.8% overall. They also went 10-of-12 from the line and had 12 assists on 14 field goals.
- Mayo led Kansas with 13 points, while Dickinson and A.J. Storr added 11 each.
- Arkansas opened with a 7-0 run to lead 12-5 early, forcing a Kansas timeout.
- The Razorbacks closed the half strong with a 9-2 run, turning a 37-34 deficit into a 43-40 lead.
Second Half Recap: Arkansas 32, Kansas 28
- Arkansas started the second half with a 7-0 run, forcing a Kansas timeout. Brazile extended it to 8-0 with a free throw.
- Kansas trimmed an 11-point deficit (55-44) with a 6-0 run, eventually taking a 67-64 lead after another 6-0 spurt.
- Fland ended Arkansas’ scoring drought with a steal and layup, sparking a 7-0 Razorback run.
- Aidoo’s free throws put Arkansas ahead 68-67, and Davis’ three-pointer capped the decisive run.
- Davis and Wagner sealed the win by making crucial free throws in the final minute, with Richmond adding two in the closing seconds for the final margin.