Razorbacks upset Kansas, St. John’s to make Sweet 16

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Arkansas Razorbacks are still at “The Big Dance.”

In the West Regional at Amica Mutual Pavillion, the Razorbacks upset seventh-seeded Kansas 79-72 on Thursday night, then did likewise to second-seeded and fifth-ranked St. John’s 75-66 on Saturday.

The Razorbacks (22-13) will meet Texas Tech at 9:09 p.m. at San Francisco’s Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association, in the West Regional Semifinals, a.k.a., “The Sweet 16.”

In the win over Kansas, after a high-scoring first half between the Razorbacks and Jayhawks that saw the two teams combine for 91 points, the game turned into a defensive grind in the second half with the teams scoring 60 total points.

The Hogs took a three-point lead into the half thanks to 16 points from Jonas Aidoo on 8-of-13 shooting. Arkansas then surged to an 11-point lead with an 8-0 run out of the break.

The Jayhawks then switched to a zone defense that slowed down the Razorbacks and allowed Kansas to claw back into the game. Trevon Brazile’s jumper with 13:41 on the clock were the team’s only points for nearly a five-minute stretch. Back-to-back buckets from A.J. Storr and K.J. Adams put Kansas back in front by three points with less than five minutes remaining.

The Hogs, however, had the winning run started by a Boogie Fland lay-up. A pair of free throws from Aidoo put Arkansas back in front for good with 2:14 left in the game. Johnell Davis’ 3-pointer with less than two minutes extended the lead to four points. Kansas cut the deficit back to two points before Arkansas finished the game 8-for-8 from the free-throw line to seal the NCAA Tournament victory.

Aidoo was fantastic with a season-best and gamehigh 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Brazile posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, including five offensive. Davis added 18 points, powered by four 3-point baskets, with D.J. Wagner chipping in with14 points, including 12 in the first half.

Zeki Mayo paced the Jayhawks with 18 points, including four 3-pointers of his own. Star big man Hunter Dickinson was held to 11 points with none coming in the second half.

In the victory over St. John’s in a battle of Hall of Fame coaches John Calipari of Arkansas and Rick Pitino of St. John’s, the Razorbacks and Red Storm slugged it out in a physical game that saw 44 total fouls, including 25 in the second half.

The Hogs, however, took control early and led for more than 34 minutes but not without St. John’s cutting the deficit to two points with just a little more than four minutes remaining.

Arkansas answered with a Billy Richmond III jumper to spur a 9-2 run to end the game and send the Hogs to their fourth Sweet 16 in five seasons.

A key to the win was Arkansas finishing the first half with a 7-0 run and opening the second half with an 11-2 spurt.

Richmond led Arkansas and tied his career highs with nine rebounds and 16 points as one of three players in double digits, fellow freshman Karter Knox added 15 points with a career-high four blocked shots and Davis added 13 points. Knox went 9-for-11 from the free-throw line to go with six boards.

Zuby Ejiofor led all players with 23 points and 12 rebounds as St. John’s pounded the glass, outrebounding the Razorbacks 51 to 45 with 28 offensive rebounds.