Live Blog: Real-time NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Arkansas-Gonzaga

You can follow all the action with allHOGS' commentary as the Razorbacks try to knock off top-seeded Bulldogs

Andy Hodges | Mar 24, 2022

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Gonzaga Bulldogs

Arkansas' path to the Final Four is pretty clear.

The only problem is No. 1 Gonzaga stands in the path, starting at 6 p.m. tonight in a game you can watch on CBS and Fubo.tv. You can also hear the game on ESPN Arkansas radio stations.

Keep up with all the action as it happens right here along with running commentary from allHOGS below during the game.

• Live game page

Final: Hogs 74, Gonzaga 68

Au'Diese Toney-Gonzaga — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas gets clutch free throws from Chris Lykes (who didn't play enough to break a sweat) and Davonte Davis for a 74-68 win over No. 1 Gonzaga.

But it was a block by Au'Diese Toney that was a hair from being a goal-tending call that kept the 'Zags from a comeback.

The Razorbacks now advance to meet the winner of the Duke-Texas Tech game on Saturday night for a shot at the Final Four.

Under 4 Timeout: Hogs 62, Gonzaga 56

Jaylin Williams-Gonzaga — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

As the television broadcast signed off for some ads, they said "there is a developing story in San Francisco."

That's because the Hogs refuse to go away ... or let Gonzaga really get a run going.

Two of the big men, Arkansas' Jaylin Williams and the 'Zags Chet Holmgren, each have four personals. That could be a key either way down the stretch.

The Hogs' defense has forced the No. 1 team into 15 turnovers. Williams' big three-pointer and JD Notae's driving and creating plays is throwing the Bulldogs' defnse into leaving some gaping holes.

Defensively, the Hogs have thrown Gonzaga's offense completely out of character.

Under 8 Timeout: Hogs 56, Gonzaga 48

Kamani Johnson-Gonzaga — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas causing some concern for the No. 1 team in the country as the defensive pressure continues.

Jaylin Williams' tight-roping the baseline to bounce the ball off Drew Timme, then hitting a big basket in the lane off a Notae drive was followed by Trey Wade's short jumper for an eight-point lead with 7:07 to play.

Chet Holmgren did pick up his fourth foul of the game with 8:36 to play and that could be huge down the stretch.

Hogs having to play without Williams and Stanley Umude for a bit after both picked up their third fouls of the game.

This one may have a wild finish.

Under 12 Timeout: Hogs 45, Gonzaga 42

Stanley Umude opens up a three-point lead with 12:22 to play as Gonzaga knows they've got a battle, which is typical of a Sweet 16 game.

JD Notae's three-pointer opened a five-point lead that the Bulldogs cut to one pretty quickly, including not getting in position for a defensive rebound. Chet Holmgren hit a short jumper, which was the third try for the 'Zags.

The Bulldogs may be getting a little frustrated by the Hogs' unrelenting defensive pressure. That's something other top-ranked teams have experienced with Arkansas this year (Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee).

Notae's 17 points leads all scorers in the game.

Under 16 Timeout: Hogs 39, Gonzaga 36

JD Notae-Gonzaga — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Hogs get a big break when Chet Holmgren picks up his third personal just before the break on a Jaylin Williams' drive and will have chance to increase the lead to a two-possession game.

Gonzaga made a run and took a brief lead, but the Razorbacks have answered every one and the defensive focus has continued into the early part of the second half, although everybody keeps waiting on their big run.

JD Notae leading all scorers with 14 points.

Halftime: Hogs 32, Gonzaga 29

JD Notae drove the length of the floor just before the buzzer before halftime when some folks were saying there was no way he could do that and the Hogs lead the No. 1 team.

"We've got to continue with the same defensive intensity in the second half that we had in the first half," Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said on the sideline headed to the locker room.

Arkansas finished the half with a 15-2 run as Jaylin Williams has eight rebounds, seven points and has taken two charges in slowing down one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country.

The Hogs are "mucking the game up," as Musselman called it. If offensive basketball is your thing it is ugly. If you like defense, the first half by the Hogs was about as good as it can get, disrupting Gonzaga's offensive rhythm and forcing nine turnovers.

This will be an interesting second half.

Arkansas has let the air out of the ball, walking up the floor and slowing down the pace and it will likely be a case of the Hogs withstanding what is probably an inevitable run by Gonzaga in the second half.

Davonte Davis-Gonzaga — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Under 4 Timeout: Gonzaga 27, Hogs 26

Trey Wade-Gonzaga — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Hogs have chance to take lead but can't get bucket to fall. Gonzaga goes 3:30 without a basket and Arkansas' 7-0 run behind increased defensive pressure gets them close at the break.

Big three-pointer from Trey Wade, who had a big dunk earlier seemed to get the Hogs' offense going. Defense has held 'Zags without a single fast-break point, which has been one of their strong points during the season.

Under 8 Timeout: Gonzaga 22, Hogs 17

The Bulldogs start to pull away, but at the 8:02 mark of the first half, Chet Holmgren picked up his second foul and coach Mark Few pulled one of the star big men.

The Hogs' offense struggles as the 'Zags picked up the defensive intensity, drawing charges. Arkansas has a single three-pointer from Stanley Umude and have dropped to 14.3%.

"The script has been flipped," Hogs coach Eric Musselman said during a sideline interview. "They are the team getting into the bonus and making free throws."

Under 12 Timeout: Gonzaga 16, Hogs 14

Like Eric Musselman said earlier in the week this is going to be a game where each team would make runs and that is the case.

Gonzaga comes out of the under-12 timeout, opens a six-point lead and the Hogs come back with Trey Wade's big dunk cut the Bulldogs' lead to two, 16-14, before a foul on Stanley Umude entered the timeout.

Under 16: Gonzaga 9, Hogs 8

Eric Musselman-Sweet 16 — Kelleye L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

The Bulldogs ripped off the first six points of the game before the Razorbacks discovered the ball would fit in the basket.

Hogs shooting 50% from the field as both teams have made four field goals, but Gonzaga's three-pointer gives them the slight edge.

In the all-important rebounding battle, Hogs have a 5-4 edge at the break.

Hog Fans — Kelleye L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Under 16: Gonzaga 9, Hogs 8

The Bulldogs ripped off the first six points of the game before the Razorbacks discovered the ball would fit in the basket.

Hogs shooting 50% from the field as both teams have made four field goals, but Gonzaga's three-pointer gives them the slight edge.

In the all-important rebounding battle, Hogs have a 5-4 edge at the break.

Final Pregame Notes & Thoughts

Chet Holmgren-Gonzaga-Sweet 16 — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

• Every bit of traditional handicapping logic says this is a game Gonzaga should win by double digits and I have yet to hear a single person discuss maybe the key thing: Arkansas coach Eric Musselman and a staff with heavy amounts of NBA experience prepare like professional teams for a game. How you handicap that is beyond me but don't be surprised to see it make a difference.

• The Razorbacks will wear red. Gonzaga, as the higher seeded team, will wear white. It will be interesting to see if either team gets an edge from the crowd.

• Don't discount the motivation this team gets from being in an underdog role. A lot of folks, including many in the Lunatic Fringe of Hog fans, wrote this team off the first week of January. As everybody has said, not particularly being respected by folks seems to bring out the best in this group.

Mark Emmert — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

National Anthem-Sweet 16 — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Hog Feed

• No respect for Hogs won't mean a thing if they can't score points.

• Would win over Gonzaga get Razorbacks back on Sports Illustrated cover?

• Jaylin Williams has heard all about what challenge he faces tonight.

• Is Snoop Dog ready to join the Razorback bandwagon in San Francisco?

• Has Jimmy Dykes, SEC office writing off Hogs' chances a little early?

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Published Mar 24, 2022

ANDY HODGES

Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.