PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Billy Richmond III scored nine of his 16 points in the second half, allowing 10th-seeded Arkansas to withstand a comeback from second-seeded St. John’s and earn a 75-66 victory in Saturday afternoon’s West Region second-round action.
The Razorbacks (22-13), who are 5-1 in their last six games, advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years despite shooting just 2-of-19 from 3-point range and four players getting into foul trouble.
In a legendary coaching matchup with Rick Pitino of St. John’s (31-5), John Calipari earned his 59th all-time NCAA Tournament win — the most among active coaches.
“We were fortunate to get out, but I’m proud of these guys and all of them here had to overcome stuff and they did,” Calipari said. “They did because they’re good guys, they’ve been raised right and they knew finally, not at the beginning of the year, that we absolutely need each other or we’re going down together, and they became one heartbeat.”
Karter Knox (15 points) and Johnell Davis (13 points) were also double-figure scorers for Arkansas, which had a 13-point lead whittled down to two with 4:11 left in regulation.
The Razorbacks will face No. 3 Texas Tech, which defeated No. 11 Drake 77-64, on Thursday.
“They’re fun to coach,” Calipari said. “I told them this is as rewarding a year as I have had based on how far we have come.”
Zuby Ejiofor had 23 points and 12 rebounds for St. John’s, but a 28 percent shooting night and just 2-of-22 from distance was too much to overcome.
Leading scorer R.J. Luis Jr. was held to 3-of-17 shooting and had just nine points. Deivon Smith added 13 points.
The Razorbacks scored the final seven points of the second half to take a 35-32 lead and never trailed from there. Zvonimir Ivisic’s inside finish flipped the score before Boogie Fland’s hanging layup in the paint capped the period.
The momentum stayed after halftime as two D.J. Wagner layups — including a blow-by to force an early timeout — and a Knox transition layup fueled an opening 9-2 run.
Jonas Aidoo’s dunk finished the streak and marked the first double-digit lead for either side with 16:25 to go, and he also followed Kadary Richmond’s layup with a three-point play.
Scott netted just the second St. John’s 3-pointer thereafter, but Trevon Brazile’s alley-oop finish and Richmond’s transition layup upped the lead to 12 with 12:33 left.
The Arkansas advantage reached 13 before the Red Storm surged as Ivisic fouled out with 11:58 left. Smith’s three-point play sparked a 7-0 run to move within six halfway through, and it extended to 14-6 to bring the difference within one possession with 6:53 left.
The Red Storm was 11 of 18 from the foul line in the second half and also missed eight of their final nine field-goal attempts.
“They were very athletic, played a great game, took away a lot of what we do,” Pitino said. “Foul trouble certainly hurt us, but they were a better team. They outplayed us. They deserve to move on, and we don’t. That’s what March Madness is all about. No matter how good a regular season you have, you play this way you’re going to get beat.”
Off the opening jump, the Razorbacks turned around a 4-2 deficit in 1:30 with a 12-2 segment that began with a one-handed Brazile dunk and also included a Johnell Davis triple and Knox’s three-point play.
Ejiofor’s interior dominance helped St. John’s stay close, ultimately taking its first lead on a Smith layup with 4:25 left before halftime. He scored 16 in the opening half.
–Joshua Kummins, Field Level Media
