Motown letdown: Butler bounces Arkansas in first round

Arkansas forward Darious Hall (20) lowers his head in the closing moments against the Butler during the second half of an NCAA men's college basketball tournament first-round game in Detroit, Friday, March 16, 2018. Butler won 79-62. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

— Kelan Martin scored 27 points and Kamar Baldwin added 24 to lift 10th-seeded Butler to a 79-62 victory over seventh-seeded Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament's East Region on Friday.

The Bulldogs (21-13) raced to a 21-2 lead in the opening minutes. Although Arkansas wiped out that entire deficit before halftime, Butler took control again early in the second.

The Bulldogs advance to play second-seeded Purdue on Sunday.

Jaylen Barford scored 15 points for Arkansas, but the Razorbacks (23-12) struggled in the paint — 6-foot-11 freshman Daniel Gafford managed only two field goals.

After falling behind by 19 early, Arkansas rebounded impressively with a 27-6 run, but the Razorbacks' lead was brief, and Butler was up 36-31 at halftime.

The Bulldogs quickly pushed the lead back to double digits in the second. Martin, who surpassed 2,000 points for his career during the game, made two 3-pointers in a 9-2 run that made it 49-38.

The Arkansas pregame notes noted that Gafford had 27 more dunks this season than Butler's whole team, but it was the Bulldogs who threw down the first one of this game when Tyler Wideman slammed in an offensive rebound to make it 7-2. Another Butler dunk — this one by Baldwin — made it 18-2, and after a 3-pointer by Martin, the Razorbacks used their second timeout of the half.

Arkansas answered with a quick 10-0 run, and although Gafford was contributing little offensively, the Razorbacks came all the way back and took a 29-27 lead on a 3-pointer by C.J. Jones.

BIG PICTURE

Butler has won at least one game in four straight NCAA Tournaments, this one in the team's first season under coach LaVall Jordan. The Bulldogs opened commanding leads over Arkansas in both halves and won on the strength of 11-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Razorbacks came in shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, but they went just 4 of 18 in this game and didn't have enough threats inside to make up for that.

UP NEXT

Butler takes on Purdue in an all-Indiana matchup. The Boilermakers beat the Bulldogs 82-67 on Dec. 16, but Purdue won't have Isaac Haas this weekend after he injured his elbow Friday.

Arkansas heads into the offseason and will have some changes on the horizon. This team had three senior starters.

EARLIER

Butler 79, Arkansas 62- Final

It just wasn't Arkansas' day. That, and Kelan Martin and Kamar Baldwin are no joke. The Bulldogs' duo combined for 51 points on 18 of 33 shooting, helping Butler advance to Sunday against Purdue, which will be without star forward Isaac Haas with an elbow injury.

The Razorbacks shot just 36 percent as a team and 4 of 18 from beyond the 3-point line. Butler finished 11 of 26 from deep in the win. Jaylen Barford led Arkansas with 15 points and Daryl Macon added 12. Daniel Gafford was not himself today, finishing with seven points on 2 of 9 from the floor to go with five rebounds.

Arkansas' season comes to an end in rather disappointing fashion. The Razorbacks finish the year 23-12.

Butler 69, Arkansas 57 - 3:16 left

The Bulldogs are close to finishing this one off. The energy is all on Butler's side.

Kelan Martin and Kamar Baldwin have been spectacular today, combining for 43 on 16 of 30 from the floor. Baldwin has also grabbed nine boards and handed out five assists.

Jaylen Barford has 14 to lead Arkansas, and Daryl Macon has 12. They are a combined 7 of 19 shooting.

Butler 58, Arkansas 51 - 7:44 left

Arkansas pulled within 53-47 with 10:01 left, a time Mike Anderson always says his team's endurance and depth becomes a factor. The Razorbacks immediately forced a pair of turnovers, but couldn't convert them into points. Kelan Martin then buried a 3 on the other end to push the Butler lead to 56-47.

Butler 53, Arkansas 42 - 11:34 left

Kelan Martin has a game-high 18 on 7 of 12 from the floor. He's buried a pair of big-time 3s and has eight in the second half to keep the Razorbacks at bay. Butler is 9 of 20 from deep today, while Arkansas is just 3 of 12.

Daryl Macon is the first Razorback to reach double figures. He has 10, but just forced a pair of tough shots, the last of which led to a Martin dunk on the other end.

Butler 46, Arkansas 36 - 15:34 left

Butler has opened the second half 4 of 6 from the floor, and Sean McDermott and Kelan Martin have each hit a 3. More importantly, though, for Arkansas is that Tyler Wideman picked up 2 fouls in the first 4+ minutes of the half. He's got 3 for the game.

Adrio Bailey's midrange game has looked good today. He's knocked down a pair of free throw line jumpers. Martin leads all scorers with 13 for Butler.

Butler 36, Arkansas 31 - Half

Mike Anderson will gladly head into the break down just five after the way the afternoon began. Daryl Macon, Jaylen Barford and Darious Hall were vital in the comeback.

Macon leads the Razorbacks with eight, Barford has seven and Hall provided four to go with a pair of rebounds and some solid defense on Butler's Kelan Martin. Martin has 10, but Hall has been in his grill all afternoon. They've exchanged quite a bit of trash talk.

Tidbits from the first half: Butler was 5 of 5 from 3 from the right wing, and Arkansas outscored Butler by 16 with Darious Hall on the floor. He's been as active and energetic as ever.

Butler 31, Arkansas 29 - 1:56 left first half

Arkansas got buckets from five different guys during an unbelievable 27-6 after falling behind 21-2. C.J. Jones capped the charge with a 3-pointer from the right corner to put the Hogs up 29-27.

Butler, though, has answered with scores from Kamar Baldwin and Kelan Martin to regain the lead. But it's a brand new ballgame. Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford have combined for 15 points.

Butler 27, Arkansas 15 - 7:39 left first half

Arlando Cook gave Arkansas its first paint points of the game just before the break. He got the layup to go and the foul, and will be at the line when play resumes. He has four points.

Arkansas isn't getting much from Daniel Gafford to this point. He's scoreless on 0 of 3 from the floor in 10 minutes. I'd think Arkansas will involve him in some pick-and-roll action before too long. Kamar Baldwin leads Butler with seven points.

Butler 21, Arkansas 10 - 10:59 left first half

The Razorbacks fell behind 21-2 following a 3 from Kelan Martin, but have reeled off eight straight and found their footing a bit. Just before the media timeout Darious Hall made a great block, which kickstarted an Arkansas break. Jaylen Barford will be at the line when play resumes.

Arlando Cook knocked down a free throw line jumper and Barford buried a 3 during the run. Butler guard Paul Jorgensen is being looked at by trainers on the Bulldogs bench.

Butler 12, Arkansas 2 - 15:55 left first half

Arkansas has opened the game 1 of 6 from the floor, all jumpshots. Butler is on a 9-0 run, connecting on 2 of 3 from distance so far. The Bulldogs are also 3 of 4 shooting in the paint, including a Tyler Wideman putback dunk.

Adrio Bailey has Arkansas' lone bucket of the game on a left short corner jumper. All five Butler starters have scored. Trey Thompson has subbed in in place of Daniel Gafford.

Pregame

Arkansas will begin the night with Anton Beard, Daryl Macon, Jaylen Barford, Adrio Bailey and Daniel Gafford.

Butler will run with Aaron Thompson, Kamar Baldwin, Tyler Wideman, Sean McDermott and Kelan Martin.

In-game updates by WholeHogSports.com's Scottie Bordelon