Arizona’s Weapon Turned Against It : Game 1: The Wildcats go cold from three-point range and Arkansas wins, 91-82. Williamson has 29 points and 13 rebounds.

Arkansas lived by the three-pointer and Arizona died by it Saturday as the Razorbacks moved into their first NCAA championship game.

Corliss Williamson gave Arkansas all the muscle it needed inside, scoring 29 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, to give the Razorbacks a 91-82 victory over the Wildcats.

Arkansas, No. 1 much of the season, ran its record to 30-3 and will play Duke, a 70-65 winner over Florida, for the national title Monday night.

President Clinton watched his beloved Hogs from a private skybox, chin in hand. He nervously clenched his fists when things got tense and provided running commentary to his boxmates--mostly local businessmen and politicians.

“I was very worried. It was a hard game. I’m glad we don’t have to replay it,” said Clinton, who planned to return for Monday night’s final.

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea watched from an adjoining skybox.

Arizona (29-6) claimed it had college basketball’s best backcourt, but it didn’t look like it against Arkansas. Damon Stoudamire made only two of 13 three-point attempts and Khalid Reeves missed all nine of his. Overall, the two made only 11 of 43 field goal attempts. Reeves finished with 20 points, Stoudamire with 16 on five-for-24 shooting.

When the Razorbacks weren’t launching shots from 30 feet or so--and making seven of 24--they relied on Williamson under the basket. Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson called Williamson “pound for pound the strongest kid in the universe,” and Williamson didn’t do anything to diminish that appraisal.

Williamson’s strength wore down Arizona in the second half, after the score was tied at 41 at halftime. Arizona pulled ahead by 67-62, but the Razorbacks broke it open with a 16-3 run that put them ahead, 78-67.

“We picked up the intensity,” Williamson said. “We wanted to go to the final game. It feels great to get a chance to play in the championship game.”

Said Arizona Coach Lute Olson: “Williamson was a load the whole ball game. No matter what we tried to do with him, he did a great job in every regard. Williamson was just too tough for us down there. He’s just so good, just so smart. You double-team him, and some guys in that situation are going to lose their poise. He doesn’t.”

Richardson said defense would make the difference in this game, but it wasn’t so much defense as Williamson’s sheer strength and Arizona’s cold shooting.

“It’s frustrating to play all season, hit your shots, and then come into a game in the Final Four and have an off game,” Stoudamire said. “I make three or four of those open shots I had, and we win the game. It’s just very frustrating to sit here and think about what just happened out there on the court.”

Arkansas had some spectacular three-point shooting. Al Dillard made two from 30-foot range within a minute.

“They just put constant pressure on you and it just takes its toll,” Stoudamire said. “With about 10 minutes left in the game, you’re just so fatigued, you’re trying to suck it up. But it’s just kind of hard.”

Arizona’s seven steals in the first half--Arkansas had one--helped the Wildcats overcome two-for-16 shooting from three-point range.

Neither Arkansas nor Arizona had ever reached the championship game. Arkansas lost in the semifinals of the Final Four in 1942, 1945 and 1990. Arizona’s only trip to the Final Four, in 1988, ended with a loss in the semifinals.