Arkansas vs. Wofford: Score and Twitter Reaction from March Madness 2015

The No. 5 seed Arkansas Razorbacks can finally exhale after an exhausting matchup with the 12th-seeded Wofford Terriers. 

Despite a spirited effort from the underdog, Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls combined to lead the Hogs into the third round on the strength of a 56-53 victory. 

NCAA March Madness tweeted out the result:

The Terriers can leave the game knowing they came as close as possible to pulling off the improbable without actually doing it. Down three with seconds remaining, Eric Garcia hoisted a potential game-tying three, but it rimmed out, and the margin for error in the NCAA tournament was epitomized. 

Spencer Collins led the way for the underdogs with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Portis paced the Razorbacks with 15 points and 13 rebounds. 

Qualls led all scorers with 20. 

Wofford may have entered the game as the lower-seeded team, but it didn't back down from the Razorbacks. Terriers head coach Mike Young talked about containing Portis in the lead-up to the game, per Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and they were mostly successful in that endeavor in the first 20 minutes. 

Portis started the game just 1-of-5 from the field and ended the first half with six points, as the Terriers defense kept him from the rim and forced jumpers.

The strange half included some flying shoes. Arkansas was warned for delay of game, and the Terriers went into the locker room with a 28-27 lead:

Heading into this game, the big question surrounded pace. Stylistically, Arkansas is a team that likes to get out and run, ranking ninth overall in tempo (70.0), according to KenPom.com.

However, it was Wofford, who ranked 315th in the same metric (61.5), that was able to control the pace in the first half. Young was pleased with that aspect of his team's start, according to Tim Hill of ABC Columbia:

As the game progressed to the second half, things didn't get much prettier. As Dan Wolken of USA Today noted, Wofford maintained a slim lead early in the second half, despite poor overall shooting as a team:

Fortunately for the Hogs, Portis isn't the only offensive weapon they have. Michael Qualls stepped up in a big way throughout the game, providing scoring and energy with a few monster dunks, including this one:

Even with Qualls doing his best to carry his team, the Terriers never wavered, continually working to give themselves a shot at winning the game and keeping their chances to win alive, as shown by numberFire:

This win is huge in terms of historical significance for the program. The Razorbacks haven't won a tournament game since 2008 and took care of a live underdog in Wofford here. 

Now Qualls, Portis and Co. must turn their attention to No. 4 North Carolina. The SEC-ACC showdown will take place Saturday. With the Tar Heels getting pushed to the limit by No. 13 Harvard, the Razorbacks have to be feeling confident about their chances to advance to the Sweet 16.