East Region: Butler pulls away for 79-62 win over Arkansas

Butler jumped out to a 21-2 lead and led for all but 25 seconds in the game in scoring a 79-62 win over Arkansas in the East Region.

The Razorbacks managed to rally from their slow start, but the Bulldogs pulled away down the stretch thanks to excellent scoring efforts from Kelan Martin and Kamar Baldwin.

Martin led all scorers with 27 points and added nine rebounds, while Baldwin contributed 24 points and nine boards.

Jaylen Barford (15 points) and Daryl Macon (12 points) were Arkansas’s only double-digit scorers, as no one else scored over seven points.

Arkansas struggled from the field in shooting just 35.7 percent, including going just 4 of 22 from 3-point range.

It didn’t help matters that Butler won the rebounding battle by 20, with the Bulldogs grabbing 11 offensive rebounds in the process.

The Hogs will finish their season at 23-12 overall.

Butler will advance to the second round to take on No. 2 Purdue, who picked up a 27-point opening round victory over Cal State Fullerton.