Arkansas hangs on to beat Wofford 56-53, avoids 5-seed woes

Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson gestures during the first half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game against Wofford Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson gestures during the first half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game against Wofford Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

By Associated Press March 20, 2015 1 min read

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Michael Qualls scored 20 points, Southeastern Conference player of the year Bobby Portis added 15 points and 13 rebounds, and fifth-seeded Arkansas held off No. 12 seed Wofford 56-53 in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.

The Razorbacks (27-8) escaped a back-and-forth game in the West Region that featured 18 lead changes, 10 ties and neither team ahead by more than five points.

Arkansas advanced to play fourth-seeded North Carolina on Saturday. The Tar Heels edged Ivy League champion Harvard earlier in the night.

Arkansas at times looked as though it might become the latest No. 5 seed to get upset in the NCAAs, but Wofford (28-7) missed three 3-pointers in the final minute-plus, helping the Razorbacks hang on.

Spencer Collins led the Terriers with 16 points and nine rebounds.