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Arkansas Dominates Hawaii, Advances in NCAA Tournament

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the 13th-seeded Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 97-78 in NCAA Tournament first round.
Darius Acuff Jr. led Arkansas with 24 points and seven assists, while Meleek Thomas added 21.
Arkansas built a 20-4 lead early and outscored Hawaii 64-40 in the paint.
Hawaii mounted a brief run but could not close the gap.
Arkansas will face 12th-seeded High Point in next round after High Point upset Wisconsin.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Tournament marked a pivotal shift in college basketball by introducing a 64-team format, expanding from 53 teams the previous year. Villanova, an unranked #8 seed, achieved a historic upset by defeating defending champion Georgetown 66-64 on April 1, 1985, showcasing the tournament's unpredictability and altering team strategies and fan engagement in subsequent years.

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Story summary

The fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the 13th-seeded Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 97-78 in NCAA Tournament first round.
Darius Acuff Jr. led Arkansas with 24 points and seven assists, while Meleek Thomas added 21.
Arkansas built a 20-4 lead early and outscored Hawaii 64-40 in the paint.
Hawaii mounted a brief run but could not close the gap.
Arkansas will face 12th-seeded High Point in next round after High Point upset Wisconsin.

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