Arkansas sneaks by Oral Roberts, 72-70

Oral Roberts 70 Arkansas 72

Anyone else feel like you just cheated death? Feel relieved and unable to really celebrate?

That’s how I am feeling. I just knew the last second attempt by Max Abmas was going in. It looked so good, but it missed just left and the game was over.

Arkansas played an abysmal first half. Musselman was trying several different lineups to stop the bleeding. Oral Roberts led most of the half by 5-8 points.

The Hogs had issues defending Max Abmas in the first half. ORU threw out pick and roll and even fake screens to get him running downhill. Tate, Notae, and Devo all had issues in the first half.

The role players for ORU also couldn’t miss.

Arkansas just couldn’t get going in the 1^st half on offense. Abysmal shot selection and a stagnant offensive game plan.

The 2^nd half started out with both teams scoring in bunches. Arkansas ran more deliberate sets to get into the paint. The Hogs dominated the paint in the first matchup against ORU, but in the 1^st half they almost avoided the paint with their execution. It was hard to watch.

The teams traded baskets for the first 6 minutes of the 2^nd half, but then the comeback began.

Arkansas stuck with a lineup of Justin Smith, Moses Moody, Jalen Tate, Devo Davis, and Desi Sills.

Sills played his best game in quite some time. He was +11 with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

Once Arkansas caught up with ORU, it was back and forth for the final 5 minutes.

The game was tied with 30 seconds to play and Arkansas elected to hold for the final shot. Tate took his man off the dribble and passed it off to Devo Davis for the midrange jumped with 3.1 seconds to play.

The Hogs snuck by and they are in the Elite 8. I can’t believe I am writing those words. They are really in the Elite 8.

It won’t be easy though. The Hogs will facing their toughest opponent of the entire season in #1 seed Baylor.

The game will be played at 8:57pm central time on Monday.

Thanks for reading! For all things Arkansas basketball, give me a follow on Twitter @BenBrandonHoops