Acuff's 36 points lift Arkansas past High Point, into Sweet 16

Razorbacks battle past upset-minded Panthers to reach NCAA Tournament's second weekend

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:30pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Arkansas punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 with a hard-fought 94-88 win over upset-minded High Point on Saturday night at the Moda Center. The Razorbacks and Panthers battled through 15 lead changes, including 10 in the second half, before Arkansas created separation late. Darius Acuff Jr. scored a game-high 36 points and added 6 assists to lead the Razorbacks to victory.

Why it matters

Arkansas' win over High Point marks the fifth time in six years the Razorbacks have reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, continuing the program's strong run of postseason success under head coach Eric Musselman.

The details

With the game tied at 83, Darius Acuff Jr. took over, scoring seven straight points to give the Hogs a lead they would not relinquish. Acuff finished with a game-high 36 points and six assists, setting an Arkansas record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game. Meleek Thomas added 19 points, while Malique Ewin recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Billy Richmond III also chipped in 15 points and 10 boards. High Point stayed within striking distance until the final moments, led by Rob Martin's 30 points, but Arkansas held on to advance.

  • The game was played on Saturday night, March 22, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

The star guard for Arkansas who scored a game-high 36 points and dished out 6 assists to lead the Razorbacks to victory.

Meleek Thomas

The Arkansas guard who scored 19 points to provide scoring support for Acuff.

Malique Ewin

The Arkansas forward who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Billy Richmond III

The Arkansas forward who contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Rob Martin

The High Point guard who scored a team-high 30 points in the losing effort.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a hard-fought game against a very tough High Point team. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays down the stretch to secure the win and advance to the Sweet 16.”

— Eric Musselman, Head Coach, Arkansas

What’s next

Arkansas will face the winner of the game between Gonzaga and UCLA in the Sweet 16 next weekend.

The takeaway

Arkansas' victory over High Point continues the Razorbacks' impressive run of success in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Eric Musselman, as they have now reached the Sweet 16 in five of the last six seasons.