You can thank Devo Davis.
For the third straight season, the Razorbacks are headed back to the Sweet 16 with a 72-71 win over top-seeded Kansas on Saturday afternoon.
Davis was spectacular in the second half and Rick Council IV was clutch down the stretch. Davis poured in 25 points, including 21 in the second half, to help erase a 12-point deficit in the second half. After Davis fouled out late, Council sealed the victory by scoring 11 of the Hogs’ final 15 points, including the final five from the line.
A Jordan Walsh 3-pointer with just under nine minutes remaining capped an 11-0 run and put Arkansas in front for the first time since scoring the game’s first points. The run set up a back-and-forth final stretch.
Arkansas trailed 35-27 at the half despite a slow start, trailing by as much as 10 points. The Razorbacks held Kansas to just 1-for-7 from 3-point range while out rebounding the Jayhawks 17-15. Kansas, however, outscored Arkansas 22-14 in the paint. Council led all scorers with 10 points to go with three rebounds and three assists.
Davis’ 25 led all scorers and was one shy of his career-best. His outstanding second half saw him go 7-for-9 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Davis’ seven field goals were half of the Hogs’ 14 in the second half. Council scored 11 of his 21 points in the second half. Kamani Johnson was key late with a putback to give Arkansas the lead to go along with a career-high 10 rebounds. Walsh added 10 points and three rebounds off the bench.
Arkansas advances to the program’s 14th Sweet 16 and will take on the winner of UConn/St. Mary’s at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas next week.
