The No. 4 seed Arkansas controlled the game from the opening minutes and never looked back, defeating No. 13 Hawai’i 97-78 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

The Razorbacks set the tone early with a 9-0 run, quickly putting Hawai’i on its heels. Aggressive defense forced multiple turnovers, and a strong interior presence, highlighted by Trevon Brazile’s shot-blocking and dunks, helped Arkansas build a commanding 24-7 lead.

Hawaii responded with a brief surge, knocking down five three-pointers during an 8-0 run to cut into the deficit. But Arkansas regained control before halftime, finishing the opening period on a strong note to take a 54-36 lead into the break after a Hawai’i buzzer-beater was overturned on review.

In the second half, Arkansas maintained its edge despite foul trouble affecting key players on both sides. The Razorbacks’ offensive efficiency proved too much, particularly their ball movement against Hawai’i’s “no help” defensive scheme. Arkansas tallied 26 assists, consistently finding open looks and high-percentage shots.

All five Razorback starters scored in double figures, led by Darius Acuff’s 24 points and seven assists. Freshman Meleek Thomas added 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Malique Ewin contributed a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, along with six assists.

Hawaii struggled to sustain momentum after its first-half push, as Arkansas’ depth and tempo kept the game out of reach down the stretch.

With the win, Arkansas advances to face No. 12 seed High Point, which pulled off an upset over No. 5 Wisconsin earlier in the day.