Arkansas held off No. 2 seed St. John’s, 75-66, to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2023. In a back-and-forth battle between two legendary coaches, the Razorbacks made timely shots down the stretch to secure their spot in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Game Summary
Both teams traded runs early, with Arkansas taking a 22-14 lead after a DJ Wagner basket with 8:40 remaining in the first half. St. John’s responded and grabbed a 30-27 lead with 3:57 left, but the Razorbacks closed the half strong to take a 35-32 advantage into the break. Offense was a struggle on both sides, as Arkansas shot 37.5% from the floor, 16.7% from three-point range, and 69.2% from the foul line, while St. John’s managed just 23.8% shooting from the field, 7.7% from beyond the arc, and 84.6% from the free-throw line.
The Razorbacks opened the second half strong, extending their lead to 49-38 within the first five and a half minutes. St. John’s, led by head coach Rick Pitino, battled back with physical defense, forcing Arkansas into foul trouble. Zvonimir Ivisic fouled out, while Jonas Aidoo, Johnell Davis, and Boogie Fland each finished with four fouls. Despite the scrappy play, Arkansas made key plays down the stretch to secure the 75-66 victory and back-to-back upsets to advance to the Sweet 16.
Who Stood Out for Arkansas
Karter Knox delivered a well-rounded performance with 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting while going 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. He also contributed six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and four blocks in 27 minutes.
Billy Richmond provided relentless energy, leading the Razorbacks with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He nearly recorded a double-double with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas will head to San Francisco to face the winner of Texas Tech and Drake in the Sweet 16.
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