Raleigh, NC -- (Sports Network) - Sonny Weems scored a career-high 31 points, as Arkansas moved into the second round of the NCAA Tournament by topping Indiana, 86-72, in East Regional play.

Darian Townes tallied 17 points and 12 rebounds for ninth-seeded Arkansas (23-11), which will take on top seed North Carolina Sunday. The Tar Heels destroyed Mount St. Mary's, 113-74, earlier Friday night.

Patrick Beverley chipped in 12 points for the Razorbacks, who had lost their previous four first-round games. It's the first time they are into the second round since 1999, when Arkansas beat Siena before losing to Iowa.

The Razorbacks shot 54.2 percent from the field and held freshman Eric Gordon to just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting, 15 below his average.

"I think it just wasn't a one-man wrecking crew that they had; it was a team effort," Beverley said. "We did the things necessary to try to limit him and his scoring ability, and, our defense was the key to our win today."

D.J. White scored 22 and Armon Bassett had 21 for Indiana (25-8), which saw the end to a tumultuous season. Head coach Kelvin Sampson resigned last month amidst accusations of five NCAA rules violations, and Dan Dakich led the team on the bench for the final seven games. The school has appointed a committee to search for a replacement for next season.

"The season's over, the games are over, but a lot of things that have to occur with Indiana basketball, or a lot of things are going to occur with Indiana basketball that need to occur here in the springtime," Dakich said. "So it's far from over."

Ahead by seven at the half, the Razorbacks maintained the lead the rest of the way, although it did get tight. Lance Stemler's three-pointer had the Hoosiers within 49-47 with 12 1/2 minutes left, but Arkansas responded with a 10-2 flurry.

Weems' three highlighted the spurt, which ended on a Gary Ervin free throw with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. The Hoosiers got close again, getting within 63-57 on a Bassett three-pointer inside of six minutes to go.

However, the Razorbacks got a big three from Weems in the midst of a 9-3 spurt for a 72-60 advantage with 3 1/2 minutes to go. Beverley's jumper capped the spurt, essentially sealing Arkansas' victory. Indiana couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.

Stefan Welsh had a three-pointer to key a 9-2 Arkansas push in the first half. The Razorbacks led by as many as 10 in the half before holding a 37-30 edge at the intermission.

Game Notes

Arkansas met UNC in the Final Four in 1995, beating the Tar Heels before losing to UCLA...Welsh hurt his left ankle, coming down on Bassett's foot while attempting a long shot with 7:18 left in the first half. Welsh was helped off the floor and didn't return.