Davis' jumper gives Arkansas 72-70 win over Oral Roberts
AP
Mar 28, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The chants of Arkansas Razorbacks' fans echoed from the concourse long after the players had cleared the floor.
''Wooooo, Pig! Sooie!''
It's not quite ''40 Minutes of Hell,'' but the Razorbacks are back.
Davonte Davis hit a short jumper with 2.9 seconds left, and Arkansas advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in 26 years with a 72-70 win over Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the South Region semifinals Saturday night.
''It's amazing just being able to be in this position right now as an individual and as an Arkansas player,'' said Davis, who had 16 points.
The Muss Bus grinded its gears through the first half into the second, bad shots and even worse defense putting Arkansas in a 12-point hole against the 15th-seeded Golden Eagles.
Eric Musselman's Razorbacks (25-6) got their Pig Sooie swagger back, turning defensive stops into early offense opportunities and offensive rebounds into points.
It came down to one final shot and Davis made it, sending Arkansas to the Elite Eight for the first time since the Nolan Richardson ''40 Minutes of Hell'' days.
Next up for the Razorbacks is top-seeded Baylor in what should be a fast-paced South Region final on Monday.
''It's an incredible feeling to be in an Elite Eight in our second year,'' said Musselman, who took over the program in 2019. ''I really can't describe it.''
The let-it-fly Golden Eagles (18-11) let history slip through their grasp.
Within reach of becoming the first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight, Oral Roberts stumbled with a series of turnovers and missed shots.
Max Abmas did his best to put the Golden Eagles in the Elite Eight for the first time in 47 years, scoring 25 points. His 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the front of the rim.
''We gave him a pass option, we gave him a dribble option,'' Oral Roberts coach Paul Mills said. ''He's super bright and picks up things really quickly and understood and had great court awareness and had great selection on the shot. Unfortunately, it didn't go in.''
The Golden Eagles had history on their minds. Florida Gulf Coast was the only other No. 15 seed to get this far in 2013 and lost at the regional semifinal round.
Oral Roberts knew it had a chance to top it against the Razorbacks after playing them earlier in the season. Oral Roberts led by 10 at halftime in Fayetteville on Dec. 20 before Arkansas bullied the Golden Eagles in the second half for an 87-76 win.
The Golden Eagles went chest-to-chest with the Razorbacks from the start of their first Sweet 16 game since 1974, contesting shots at the rim and chasing out to the arc to prevent open looks. Arkansas helped them out with some difficult shots, going 1 for 7 from 3 in the first half.
The Razorbacks tried to make it difficult on Abmas, trapping him in most pick-and-roll situations. The nation's leading scorer still found a way to get his points, with 12 in the first half. Carlos Jurgens, who averages 5.7 points per game, took advantage of repeatedly being left open, scoring 11 to help Oral Roberts lead 35-28 at halftime.
The Golden Eagles continued making shots in the second half as the Razorbacks kept taking bad ones, stretching the lead to 46-34.
''We weren't playing hard,'' Davis said. ''We were playing slow. We were letting them slow us down and that's not what we needed. We're a fast team.''
Arkansas had already been in this position once before, needing ''24 Minutes of Hell'' to outlast another upstart, Colgate, to open the NCAA Tournament.
Just like that game, the Razorbacks snapped out of it, playing better defense and getting to the rim instead of throwing up contested shots. Arkansas chipped the lead down to four midway through and finally caught, then passed, the Golden Eagles into the Elite Eight.
''The job wasn't just to get to the Sweet 16,'' Abmas said. ''The job was to get to the national championship and win it. We came up short, but all the stuff we accomplished this season is something we'll celebrate and remember the rest of our lives.''
REBOUNDING RAZORBACKS
Arkansas had 24 offensive rebounds in its regular-season win over Oral Roberts and owned the offensive glass again in the Sweet 16.
The Razorbacks had 18 offensive boards, leading to 18 second-chance points, and had 11 more rebounds overall.
Justin Smith had 10 offensive rebounds in the first game and grabbed 11 more on Saturday.
TATE'S LIFT
Jalen Tate kept the Razorbacks in it while they were struggling and had a strong all-around game.
The 6-foot-7 junior used his size to score 22 points. He set up Davis for the winning shot with a drive-and-kick.
''He played well and he was scoring the ball,'' Davis said. ''We needed that spark and he did it.''
---
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and updated bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
ORU
Golden Eagles
35
ARK
Razorbacks
28
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Francis Lacis vs. Jaylin Williams (Razorbacks gains possession)
19:40
Jaylin Williams misses two point hook shot
19:38
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
19:21
Moses Moody blocks Carlos Jurgens's two point layup
19:19
Carlos Jurgens offensive rebound
19:14
+3
Francis Lacis makes three point jump shot (Kareem Thompson assists)
3-0
18:54
Jalen Tate misses three point jump shot
18:52
Justin Smith offensive rebound
18:44
Moses Moody misses two point jump shot
18:42
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
18:20
Kareem Thompson misses three point jump shot
18:18
Jaylin Williams defensive rebound
18:09
Justin Smith misses two point jump shot
18:07
Jalen Tate offensive rebound
18:00
+2
Jaylin Williams makes two point layup (Jalen Tate assists)
3-2
17:39
Kareem Thompson misses three point jump shot
17:37
Jaylin Williams defensive rebound
17:25
Jalen Tate misses two point jump shot
17:23
Kareem Thompson defensive rebound
17:14
Max Abmas misses two point jump shot
17:12
Davonte Davis defensive rebound
16:57
Justin Smith turnover (bad pass) (Kareem Thompson steals)
16:47
Max Abmas misses two point jump shot
16:45
Max Abmas offensive rebound
16:39
Max Abmas misses two point jump shot
16:37
Davonte Davis defensive rebound
16:36
Davonte Davis offensive foul (Carlos Jurgens draws the foul)
16:36
Davonte Davis turnover
16:15
Carlos Jurgens offensive foul (Moses Moody draws the foul)
16:15
Carlos Jurgens turnover
16:10
Paul Mills technical foul
16:10
+1
Moses Moody makes technical free throw 1 of 2
3-3
16:10
+1
Moses Moody makes technical free throw 2 of 2
3-4
16:04
Justin Smith turnover (traveling)
15:47
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot (Carlos Jurgens assists)
6-4
15:27
Jaylin Williams misses two point jump shot
15:25
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
15:15
Francis Lacis misses three point jump shot
15:13
Moses Moody defensive rebound
15:09
Moses Moody misses three point jump shot
15:07
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
14:59
+3
Carlos Jurgens makes three point jump shot (Max Abmas assists)
9-4
14:41
+2
Jalen Tate makes two point driving layup
9-6
14:41
Francis Lacis shooting foul (Jalen Tate draws the foul)
14:41
TV timeout
14:41
+1
Jalen Tate makes regular free throw 1 of 1
9-7
14:28
Justin Smith personal foul (Kevin Obanor draws the foul)
14:18
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
14:16
Golden Eagles offensive rebound
14:18
JD Notae personal foul (Carlos Jurgens draws the foul)
14:05
DeShang Weaver misses three point jump shot
14:03
JD Notae defensive rebound
13:37
Davonte Davis misses two point jump shot
13:35
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
13:27
+3
Kevin Obanor makes three point jump shot (Max Abmas assists)
12-7
13:09
JD Notae misses two point jump shot
13:07
Kareem Thompson defensive rebound
13:01
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot
15-7
12:58
Razorbacks 60 second timeout
12:38
+2
Jalen Tate makes two point jump shot (Justin Smith assists)
15-9
12:14
Carlos Jurgens turnover (lost ball) (JD Notae steals)
12:04
+2
Justin Smith makes two point layup (Davonte Davis assists)
15-11
11:42
Sheldon Stevens misses three point jump shot
11:40
Davonte Davis defensive rebound
11:31
+2
Jalen Tate makes two point turnaround jump shot
15-13
11:31
DeShang Weaver shooting foul (Jalen Tate draws the foul)
11:31
TV timeout
11:31
Jalen Tate misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:31
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
11:15
Davonte Davis personal foul (Carlos Jurgens draws the foul)
11:05
Max Abmas misses two point jump shot
11:03
JD Notae defensive rebound
10:51
JD Notae turnover (traveling)
10:38
Max Abmas turnover (bad pass) (Desi Sills steals)
10:28
Moses Moody misses two point jump shot
10:26
Moses Moody offensive rebound
10:27
Francis Lacis blocks Moses Moody's two point jump shot
10:26
Razorbacks offensive rebound
10:13
+2
JD Notae makes two point jump shot (Desi Sills assists)
15-15
10:00
Max Abmas misses two point layup
9:58
Desi Sills defensive rebound
9:54
JD Notae misses three point jump shot
9:52
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
9:35
Kevin Obanor turnover (lost ball) (JD Notae steals)
9:27
Max Abmas shooting foul (JD Notae draws the foul)
9:27
+1
JD Notae makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-16
9:27
+1
JD Notae makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-17
9:08
+2
Carlos Jurgens makes two point jump shot (Francis Lacis assists)
17-17
8:45
Desi Sills misses two point layup
8:43
Justin Smith offensive rebound
8:42
+2
Justin Smith makes two point layup
17-19
8:38
Max Abmas turnover (bad pass) (Moses Moody steals)
8:29
Moses Moody misses two point jump shot
8:27
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
8:12
+2
Carlos Jurgens makes two point layup
19-19
7:54
Desi Sills offensive foul (Carlos Jurgens draws the foul)
7:54
Desi Sills turnover
7:54
TV timeout
7:35
DeShang Weaver misses three point jump shot
7:33
Justin Smith defensive rebound
7:24
Moses Moody turnover (traveling)
7:08
+2
Kareem Thompson makes two point pullup jump shot
21-19
6:42
Justin Smith misses two point layup
6:40
DeShang Weaver defensive rebound
6:30
+2
Carlos Jurgens makes two point driving dunk
23-19
6:10
Kareem Thompson blocks JD Notae's two point jump shot
6:08
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
5:57
Max Abmas misses three point jump shot
5:55
Moses Moody defensive rebound
5:43
JD Notae turnover (bad pass)
5:23
Carlos Jurgens misses three point jump shot
5:21
Justin Smith defensive rebound
5:13
Kevin Obanor personal foul (Davonte Davis draws the foul)
5:10
+2
Moses Moody makes two point jump shot
23-21
4:51
+2
Carlos Jurgens makes two point layup (DeShang Weaver assists)
25-21
4:32
+3
Jalen Tate makes three point jump shot (Desi Sills assists)
25-24
4:13
+2
Kevin Obanor makes two point dunk (Kareem Thompson assists)
27-24
3:52
Desi Sills misses three point jump shot
3:50
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
3:42
DeShang Weaver misses three point jump shot
3:40
Desi Sills defensive rebound
3:20
Jalen Tate misses three point jump shot
3:18
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
3:09
Jalen Tate shooting foul (Max Abmas draws the foul)
3:09
TV timeout
3:09
Max Abmas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:09
+1
Max Abmas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
28-24
2:51
Justin Smith misses two point layup
2:49
Max Abmas defensive rebound
2:42
+3
Max Abmas makes three point step back jump shot
31-24
2:18
Justin Smith misses two point jump shot
2:16
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
2:07
Jalen Tate personal foul (Max Abmas draws the foul)
2:07
+1
Max Abmas makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-24
2:07
+1
Max Abmas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
33-24
1:55
Moses Moody misses two point jump shot
1:53
Kareem Thompson defensive rebound
1:46
Max Abmas misses three point jump shot
1:44
Desi Sills defensive rebound
1:37
+2
Davonte Davis makes two point driving layup
33-26
1:17
Kevin Obanor turnover (traveling)
1:02
+2
Desi Sills makes two point driving layup (Davonte Davis assists)
33-28
0:48
Max Abmas turnover (bad pass)
0:36
Moses Moody misses two point jump shot
0:34
Justin Smith offensive rebound
0:34
Justin Smith misses two point tip shot
0:27
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
0:23
+2
Kareem Thompson makes two point jump shot
35-28
0:05
JD Notae misses three point jump shot
0:03
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
ORU
Golden Eagles
35
ARK
Razorbacks
44
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:48
Jaylin Williams personal foul (Kevin Obanor draws the foul)
19:44
+2
Kevin Obanor makes two point jump shot (Max Abmas assists)
37-28
19:27
Jalen Tate misses two point layup
19:25
Francis Lacis defensive rebound
19:12
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
19:10
Jaylin Williams defensive rebound
19:05
+2
Davonte Davis makes two point pullup jump shot
37-30
18:51
+2
Francis Lacis makes two point layup (Carlos Jurgens assists)
39-30
18:31
+2
Davonte Davis makes two point driving layup (Jalen Tate assists)
39-32
18:15
+3
Francis Lacis makes three point jump shot (Kareem Thompson assists)
42-32
17:59
+2
Davonte Davis makes two point jump shot (Jalen Tate assists)
42-34
17:45
Max Abmas misses three point jump shot
17:43
Moses Moody defensive rebound
17:37
Justin Smith misses two point jump shot
17:35
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
17:23
+2
Max Abmas makes two point jump shot
44-34
17:03
Jalen Tate misses two point layup
17:01
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
16:49
Kevin Obanor offensive foul (Jalen Tate draws the foul)
16:49
Kevin Obanor turnover
16:34
Moses Moody misses two point jump shot
16:32
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
16:22
Kareem Thompson misses three point jump shot
16:20
Davonte Davis defensive rebound
16:14
Davonte Davis misses two point step back jump shot
16:12
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
16:12
Justin Smith personal foul (Francis Lacis draws the foul)
15:48
Moses Moody blocks Carlos Jurgens's two point jump shot
15:46
JD Notae defensive rebound
15:40
JD Notae misses two point jump shot
15:38
Francis Lacis defensive rebound
15:25
+2
Kareem Thompson makes two point jump shot (Francis Lacis assists)