Yahoo Finance Arkansas survives Oral Roberts
Yahoo Sports reporter Pete Thamel discusses the Razorbacks nailbiter victory against 15 Oral Roberts.
Video transcript
PETE THAMEL: This is Pete Thamel for Yahoo Sports in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where we just came inches from an iconic NCAA tournament moment. Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas, the nation's leading scorer, who poured in 25 points, had a clean look at a pull up right wing 3, which would have upset number three Arkansas in the NCAA tournament on Saturday. Unfortunately for Abmas, he did miss. The shot caromed off the front rim. Arkansas held on for a 72-70 victory. And Oral Roberts comes achingly close to becoming the first number 15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
Instead, they're calling the hogs deep into the night here in Indianapolis. This is Arkansas's first Elite Eight since 1995. Arkansas went to back to back title games in '94 and '95. And since then, the program has wandered the desert. It started with Coach Nolan Richardson, churned through three forgettable tenures. But here they are in Eric Musselman's second year, back on the cusp of the top of the sport. Wasn't pretty for Arkansas on Saturday.
They needed 18 second chance points, 42 points in the paint, and 11 offensive rebounds for forward Justin Smith. They basically had sharper brass knuckles and use their size and athleticism advantages to eventually barely overwhelm Oral Roberts. Number three Arkansas will play number one Baylor on Monday for a spot in the Final Four. This is Pete Thamel in Indianapolis.
