COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : After Fast Start, No. 2 Arkansas Survives a Fight to the Finish : Southeast: Razorbacks jump to a 12-0 lead, but have hard time putting away Arizona State in a 97-90 victory. Alabama beats Wake Forest.

Second-ranked Arkansas gave Coach Nolan Richardson four of the “40 minutes of hell” he asks for, and they were just enough.

The Razorbacks bolted to a 12-0 lead in the first four minutes, then spent the last 36 fighting off Arizona State in a 97-90 victory in the second round of the Southeast Regional tournament.

The victory sends Arkansas (33-3) into the regional semifinals against Alabama on Thursday night at Charlotte, N.C.

“We were raggedy,” Richardson acknowledged. “A raggedy ride is better than a smooth walk.”

Oliver Miller had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Todd Day added 17 points and four others scored in double figures as Arkansas broke the school record of 32 victories in a season, set in 1978.

Arizona State (20-10) stopped Arkansas’ string of four consecutive 100-point games, but Richardson said living up to expectations has been a difficult for his team.

“It’s a problem,” he said. “The last four games we’ve not been in a basketball game the last 12 minutes of the games.

“I didn’t expect to come to the NCAA and make a mockery of it by blowing everybody away. The point is, we’re not going to look as sharp every ballgame. Arizona State had a lot to do with the way we played.”

The Sun Devils, appearing in the tournament for the first time in 10 years, won their previous three games and six of the last seven.

Arkansas opened the game by making five of its first six shots, including three-pointers by Lee Mayberry and Day, two inside baskets by Miller and another layup by Arlyn Bowers to take a 12-0 lead with 17:25 remaining in the first half.

“I think we were a nervous a little early,” Arizona State Coach Bill Frieder said. “I just think (Arkansas has) too much depth. I don’t think we can play Arkansas much better. I don’t think we could have done much differently.”

The Sun Devils had only 14 turnovers against a team that averages causing almost 23 per game.

Arizona State missed its first eight shots before freshman Jamal Faulkner, who had a career-high 29 points, scored on a rebound layup with 16:56 left in the half.

With Faulkner scoring 10 points, Arizona State managed to tie it, 30-30, on a dunk by Isaac Austin 7:48 before halftime.

The Sun Devils twice went ahead by a point, but fell behind for good 3:54 before halftime when Ron Huery of Arkansas broke a 43-43 tie with a free throw.

Dwayne Fontana added 18 points for the Sun Devils and Austin had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Alabama 96, Wake Forest 88--Melvin Cheatum, Gary Waites and Latrell Sprewell each scored 21 points for the Crimson Tide.

Waites scored 19 points in the first half, including five three-point baskets, as Alabama (23-9) took a 48-45 lead before Sprewell and Cheatum took over in the second half.

Sprewell scored 16 in the second half, including six consecutive free throws in the final 1:30, and Cheatum added 13 points after halftime.

Alabama built its biggest lead, 61-51, on a free throw by James Robinson before Wake Forest rallied to cut it to 76-73 with 6:23 remaining.

But Waites made a jump shot and fed Robinson for a layup to give the Crimson Tide breathing room, 80-73.

Chris King scored 29 points for Wake Forest (19-11).