Arkansas outlasts Illinois for NCAA Tournament win, sets up showdown with Kansas
No. 8 seed Arkansas is moving on to the Round of 32. The Razorbacks outlasted No. 9 seed Illinois for a 73-63 win in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.
Ricky Council IV led the way for the Hogs. Playing a team-high 39 minutes, Council had 18 points. He made 3-of-9 field goals, including 1-of-3 from 3-point territory. Council did most of his scoring at the free-throw line, going 11-of-12. He made it a double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds.
Council’s big game puts him in an exclusive club among Razorbacks in the NCAA Tournament.
Ricky Council IV becomes the 4th player in @RazorbackMBB history to get 18+ points, 10+ rebounds, 1+ block and 1+ steal in an #NCAATournament game, joining Corliss Williamson (2x), Scott Hastings and Justin Smith.
— HogStats.com (@HogStats) March 16, 2023
Davonte Davis led Arkansas in field goals, with 7-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, for 16 points. Davis also had a team-high 4 steals in the game.
Eric Musselman’s squad will now face No. 1 seed Kansas on Saturday.