Arkansas basketball lived to play another day.
The fourth-seeded Razorbacks dispatched 13-seed Vermont, 75-71, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament from Buffalo on Thursday night. The Hogs will play New Mexico State on Saturday for a spot in the Sweet 16.
Vermont tried twice in the final minute.
The Catamounts pulled within three points with 23 seconds left, but Stanley Umude, who led the Hogs with 21 points, nailed a pair of free throws to force the issue. Then, Ben Shungu buried a 3-pointer on the other end with 12 seconds to meet the challenge, but JD Notae hit a pair of free throws to build the lead back to five.
Arkansas led by seven at halftime, but neither team ever led by double digits. The Hogs had it up to a nine-point lead, which was quickly countered by a 12-0 Vermont run. But Arkansas’ superior athleticism put away the Catamounts.
Led by Umude’s 21, four Arkansas players scored in double figures. JD Notae, who led the team in scoring during the regular season, had all of his 17 in the second half.
Vermont’s two best players – Ryan Davis and Ben Shungu – did what they could, scoring 20 and 20 points on a combined 15 of 27 shooting. But the rest of the Catamounts lineup was just 11 of 31.
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