No. 4 Arkansas rallied late to beat No. 12 High Point and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Fox News reported Saturday. The loss ended High Point’s season, Fox News said.
High Point led by as many as five early and was ahead 56-52 with 14:17 remaining after a 12-2 run, according to Fox News. The teams traded baskets for several minutes before the game tightened again, Fox News reported.
With 7:04 to play, the Panthers led 72-71, and Arkansas answered with a 10-2 run that produced its largest lead of the night at seven, Fox News said. The game later was tied at 83 after a run by High Point, but Arkansas outscored the Panthers 11-5 over the final 3:19 to secure the victory, Fox News reported.
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. scored 36 points, and High Point’s Rob Martin and Cam’Ron Fletcher combined for 55 points (30 and 25, respectively), Fox News said. Arkansas coach John Calipari will take his team into the Sweet 16 against the winner of the game between No. 1 Arizona and No. 9 Utah State, Fox News reported. High Point’s upset of No. 5 Wisconsin earlier in the tournament was the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory, Fox News added.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
