Arkansas survives scare at Oklahoma behind Darius Acuff Jr.’s elite performance
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The No. 15 Arkansas Razorbacks survived a scare on the road on Tuesday night, grinding out an 83-79 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. In a game that featured 15 lead changes and 9 ties, Arkansas showcased the kind of gritty basketball that John Calipari emphasizes in his program.
- Final Score: Arkansas Razorbacks 83, Oklahoma Sooners 79
Arkansas flipped a 48-44 halftime deficit into a 4-point victory by outscoring Oklahoma 39-31 after the break. The Razorbacks imposed their will in the paint, bulldozing their way to 56 points inside compared to Oklahoma’s 30. That interior dominance proved crucial as Arkansas struggled mightily from 3-point range, connecting on just 2-of-17 attempts (11.8%).
What separated the Razorbacks was their ball security and efficiency. They committed only 6 turnovers while forcing 12 from the Sooners, converting those extra possessions into 15 points. Arkansas shot a blistering 55.6% overall from the field, boosted by 71.7% accuracy on 2-point attempts.
The star of the show was point guard Darius Acuff Jr., who orchestrated the comeback with a masterful 2-way performance. Acuff poured in a team-high 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting while dishing out 9 assists without a single turnover in 36 minutes. His court vision and decision making were the difference maker in a hostile road environment. Considering that Acuff has struggled at times with turnovers this year, seeing him play a clean game is a very encouraging sign for the Hogs moving forward.
For Oklahoma, Nijel Pack kept pace offensively with a game-high 22 points, drilling 6 3-pointers on 11 attempts. Mohamed Wague battled on the boards with 12 rebounds but struggled with ball security, coughing up 4 turnovers. Arkansas got solid contributions from Meleek Thomas (16 points) and bench scorer Malique Ewin, who was perfect from the field (5-of-5) for 12 points.
This victory improves Arkansas to 16-5 overall and 7-2 in SEC play, positioning it well for a potential climb in next week’s AP Poll. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s losing streak extends to 7 games, dropping the Sooners to 11-10 overall and a dismal 1-8 in conference action.
Box Score Breakdown
The statistical tale of the tape reveals how Arkansas imposed its physical style despite shooting struggles from distance.
Key Player Performances
Individual performances shaped the outcome, with several players delivering in crucial moments.
Darius Acuff Jr. earned Player of the Game honors with a floor general performance:
- Led Arkansas with 21 points on efficient 7-of-16 shooting
- Nearly perfect from the charity stripe at 6-of-7
- Orchestrated the offense with 9 assists
- Protected the ball with zero turnovers in 36 minutes
Acuff’s ability to score when needed while keeping his teammates involved is exactly what teams need in March. His turnover-free performance was particularly impressive given the pace and physicality of the contest.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
