High Point Panthers vs Arkansas Razorbacks Prediction: NCAA Tournament Second Round
Updated 09 Jul, 2026
The NCAA Tournament rolls into the Round of 32 with one of the more intriguing contrasts on the board on Saturday, as High Point looks to build on its Cinderella story against a surging Arkansas squad. High Point stunned Wisconsin with an 83-82 win to earn its first tournament victory, showing an explosive offense that has been among the nation’s best all season. Arkansas, meanwhile, enters this game off a dominant 97-78 win over Hawaii and has now won 6 straight games, fueled by elite guard play and scoring depth. Before tip-off in this High Point vs Arkansas game, you can keep reading to get my thoughts below.
High Point enters this game riding the high of a historic upset, knocking off a 5 seed behind efficient shooting and timely scoring. The Panthers are one of the highest-scoring teams in the country, averaging just under 90 points per game, and they rely heavily on spacing, perimeter shooting, and ball movement. Their ability to stretch defenses will be tested against a longer and more athletic Arkansas team.
Arkansas, on the other hand, has looked dominant down the stretch. The Razorbacks just dismantled Hawaii while shooting over 54% from the field and showcasing their transition offense. With multiple players capable of scoring 15 or more points on any given night, Arkansas presents matchup problems across the board. The key question is whether their defense can consistently contain High Point’s perimeter attack.
Arkansas
High Point
Category | High Point | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 89.8 | 90.1 |
Points allowed per game | 70.6 | 80.0 |
Team Field Goal % | 49% | 50% |
Rebounds per game | 36.5 | 36.2 |
Assists per game | 16.3 | 17.3 |
High Point has the offensive firepower to hang around for stretches, and its confidence is sky-high after the upset win. The Panthers’ ability to shoot from deep and push tempo gives them a path to keep this competitive early. However, Arkansas presents a different level of size, athleticism, and depth than what High Point faced in the first round. Above all else, I'm going to take the over in this matchup, as both teams should do plenty of scoring in what will be a highly entertaining game in the round of 32.
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