Razorbacks recapping first-round nail-biting win over Vermont

Davonte Davis, JD Notae and Stanley Umude’s complete press conference after Hogs’ 75-71 win over Vermont on Thursday night.

Razorbacks survive Vermont in first round to play again Saturday

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Survive and advance.

Arkansas had to do that Thursday night in a 75-71 win over Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Razorbacks and Catamounts were close throughout. Neither team let the other get away, despite both teams making runs.

Stanley Umude led the Hogs with 21 points as one of four Razorbacks in double digits. JD Notae scored 17 (all in the second half) and Davonte Davis added 14 points off the bench.

Davis came off the bench in the first half when Notae got into foul trouble again and had to sit out. He led the scorers at halftime with 10 points.

Jaylin Williams notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Arkansas used a 9-0 run to gain control in the first half and took a 34-27 lead.

The Catamounts made their biggest run of the night with a 12-0 spurt in the second half that pulled them back into the game with under 16 minutes remaining.

It was close the rest of the way.

The Razorbacks finally put the game away down the stretch at the free throw line to put the finishing touches on a second half that saw the Hogs go 16-of-18 from the line.

Ryan Davis and Ben Shungu each scored 20 points for Vermont in the loss.

Arkansas advances to take on 13-seed New Mexico State in the second round on Saturday. The Aggies upset 5-seed UConn in Buffalo earlier on Thursday.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

Listen on ESPN Arkansas to Razorbacks’ NCAA opener with Vermont

BUFFALO, N.Y. — No. 17 Arkansas (seeded fourth) will face Vermont (seeded 13th) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tipoff is set for 8:20 p.m. and the game will be televised on TNT.

Arkansas earned a No. 4 seed in the West Region after finishing fourth during the SEC regular season and reaching the SEC Tournament semifinal.

Vermont was the America East regular-season (17-1) and tournament champions. Both teams finished the season hot as the Razorbacks won 15 of their last 18 games — including eight wins versus NCAA Quad 1 teams — while the Catamounts won 22 of their last 23.

Jaylin Williams (SEC)

• This will be the first meeting between Arkansas and Vermont. However, coach Eric Musselman is 1-0 against the Catamounts as his Nevada squad beat Vermont in the CBI semifinal in 2016.

• Arkansas earns its 35th NCAA bid and 2nd straight. Last year, Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 before falling to eventual national champion Baylor.

• The Razorbacks own a 45-33 all-time record in NCAA action.

• This is the sixth time in program history Arkansas has earned a No. 4 seed and the 13th time to be among the top-4 seeds since the NCAA began its current seeding process for the 1979 championship. The previous No. 4 seeds came in 1999, 1993, 1990, 1983 and 1982.

• Arkansas is 17-8 in NCAA Tournament first round games.

• Arkansas 0-1 all-time in Buffalo. On Jan. 1, 1944, Arkansas lost to a George Mikan-led DePaul team, 59-30, at Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium.


NCAA Tournament, Round 1

Arkansas vs. Vermont

Current Records: No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks (25-8) vs. No. 13 seed Vermont Catamounts (28-5)

Date-Time: Thursday, March 17 at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Where: Keybank Center (20,500), Buffalo, N.Y.

TV/Streaming: TNT (Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood and Evan Washburn).

Radio: There is no online streaming. Listen to Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and central Arkansas, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home and on satellite radio at Sirius 136 and XM 203.


Sportsbook Info (via BetOnline.ag)

Spread: Arkansas -4.5 (-112), Vermont +4.5 (-108)

Total: 139.5 – Over: -205, Under: -175

Moneyline: Arkansas -105, Vermont -115

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Halftime Pod Presented by Eastside Liquor: Holt, Woo

The Madness Starts!! How Do The Hogs Beat UVM? Cardinals Spring Training Report and more!
Guests- Bob Holt & Katie Woo

Beck comparing Musselman with Richardson plus handling tournament

Corey Beck played for Nolan Richardson in college and wanted to play for Eric Musselman in pros ahead of tournament.

Halftime is LIVE. Drew live from Buffalo, the Madness begins, MLB,Hogs and more 877-377-6963

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11:30 – Bob Holt

12:30 – Katie Woo

The Madness Starts!! How Do The Hogs Beat UVM? Cardinals Spring Training Report and more! Call or text, 877-377-6963