Sweet 16 Set: Arkansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Texas & More Advance in NCAA Tournament 2026
Darius Acuff Jr. Scored 36 points and added six assists Saturday night, propelling Arkansas to a 94-88 victory over High Point and securing a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Razorbacks’ win, played at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, came after a tightly contested second half where Acuff scored 23 of his points.
Acuff’s performance places him in rare company, joining Chris Paul as the only freshmen since 1973 to record consecutive 20-point, five-assist games to begin their NCAA tournament careers, according to ESPN Research. His 36 points also represent the most scored by a freshman in an NCAA tournament game in Arkansas history, surpassing De’Aaron Fox’s 39 in the 2017 Sweet 16.
The game remained close until the final minutes. With the score tied at 83, Acuff drove to the basket for back-to-back layups, giving Arkansas a four-point lead. He then extended the advantage to seven with a 3-pointer from the wing with 58 seconds remaining. Acuff scored 12 of the Razorbacks’ final 15 points.
Despite Acuff’s dominant performance, High Point’s Rob Martin proved a formidable opponent, finishing with 30 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Martin received a standing ovation from the crowd for his efforts.
Arkansas, a No. 4 seed, advanced to face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 seed Illinois and No. 9 seed Utah State. This marks Arkansas’ fifth Sweet 16 appearance in the last six years.
Arkansas head coach John Calipari has now reached his 25th March Madness appearance, and is two wins away from his 17th Sweet 16. The Razorbacks’ victory followed a 97-78 first-round win over Hawaii on Thursday, where Acuff contributed 24 points and seven assists.
The win for Arkansas came after a dramatic tournament opener for High Point, which upset No. 5 seed Wisconsin 83-82 on a last-second shot.
Arkansas’ success has been fueled by a balanced attack. In addition to Acuff’s scoring, Meleek Thomas added 19 points, Billy Richmond III contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Malique Ewin had 14 points and 12 rebounds against High Point.
Looking ahead, analysts suggest Arkansas’ continued success hinges on Acuff’s ability to consistently perform in high-pressure situations and create opportunities for his teammates. The Razorbacks’ depth, demonstrated by the contributions of Ewin, Richmond, and Thomas, will also be crucial.
The Razorbacks will await the winner of the Illinois-Utah State game, with the Elite Eight matchup scheduled for next week.