March Madness 2022: Arkansas hangs on for 75-71 win over 13th-seeded Vermont

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Stanley Umude had 21 points, JD Notae scored all 17 of his in the second half, and No. 4 seed Arkansas hung on for a 75-71 victory over 13th-seeded Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.

Jaylin Williams had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Razorbacks (26-8), who a year ago reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual champion Baylor. Arkansas advanced to face the West Region’s No. 12 seed, New Mexico State, which knocked off Connecticut.

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Two-time America East player of the year Ryan Davis and Ben Shungu scored 20 points each for the Catamounts (28-6).

Coach Eric Musselman said it’s not unusual for Notae, the team's leading scorer, to score most of his points in the second half, especially in games he picks up two fouls in the first half and sits, as happened against Vermont.

Arkansas guard JD Notae shoots against Vermont guard Aaron Deloney, left, during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men's tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y.  (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

"I just believe the last 10 minutes of the game are so important that I want to have my best players available," Musselman said. "I told him at halftime, `My man, I’m going to you. We’re running all the sets for you that we hadn’t run the first maybe 31 minutes of the game.‘"

Notae responded by scoring Arkansas' opening basket of the second half, and then bookending the final 20 minutes by sinking two free throws to seal the win with nine seconds remaining. Vermont’s final possession ended with Finn Sullivan missing a 3-point attempt,