Hogs take down Hoosiers for first NCAA Tournament victory in years
By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Contact)
University of Arkansas's Patrick Beverly takes a shot over Indiana defender Armon Bassett during the first half of Fridays first round game in the 2008 NCAA Division I basketball tournament at the RBC Center in Raleigh North Carolina.
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RALEIGH, N.C. — The Arkansas Razorbacks earned their first NCAA Tournament victory in more than nine years Friday night, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 86-72 in the first round of the East Regional in Raleigh, N.C.
Arkansas had not won an NCAA Tournament game since defeating Siena in a first-round game March 11, 1999. The Razorbacks lost to Iowa in the second round that year and since then had lost four consecutive first-round games.
Sonny Weems scored 31 points and Darian Townes added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Arkansas (23-11), which advances to face North Carolina in a second-round game Sunday. The Tar Heels (33-2), who defeated Mount St. Mary’s 113-74 Friday, are the top overall seed in the 65-team tournament.
Arkansas took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Stefan Welsh that made it 21-19 with 9:05 remaining in the first half. The Razorbacks led 37-30 at halftime. Welsh was injured in the first half and sat out the rest of the game.
D.J. White scored 22 points and Armon Bassett added 21 for Indiana (25-8). Hoosiers freshman Eric Gordon, who was averaging 21.3 points a game, was held to 8.
Patrick Beverley scored 12 points for Arkansas.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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Originally published 10:50 p.m., March 21, 2008
Updated 10:51 p.m., March 21, 2008
