Kentucky Uses Momentum-Shifting Five-Point Possession to Hand Arkansas First Home Loss
FAYETTEVILLE - In a game that had all the makings of an SEC thriller, #15/16 Arkansas looked poised to ride a second-half surge to another big win at Bud Walton Arena. But Kentucky had other plans. The Wildcats weathered a furious Arkansas comeback, capitalized on a crucial five-point possession late, and walked out of Fayetteville with a gritty 85-77 victory, snapping the Razorbacks’ 16-game home winning streak.
Let’s break it down.
The Turning Point: A Five-Point Gut Punch
With the game tied at 63 and just over eight minutes to play, the momentum was hanging in the balance. That’s when Kentucky delivered the knockout sequence.
A foul on Arkansas was immediately followed by a technical, gifting the Wildcats four free throws and the ball. They cashed in three from the stripe, then drew another foul on the ensuing possession.
Malachi Moreno calmly knocked down two more free throws, pushing Kentucky ahead 68-63. Moments later, Moreno capped the run with a dunk, and just like that, the Wildcats had turned a deadlocked game into a seven-point lead.
That five-point possession didn’t just swing the scoreboard - it shifted the energy in the building. Arkansas tried to claw back, trimming the deficit to three on a couple of occasions, but Kentucky always had an answer. When the Wildcats stretched the lead to 10 at 80-70 with just over two minutes left, the Hogs simply ran out of runway.
Arkansas Storms Back, But Can’t Hold On
The Razorbacks came out of halftime down seven but immediately flipped the script with a 22-11 run. Fueled by three technicals on Kentucky and a spark from Billy Richmond III, who threw down a dunk to give Arkansas its first lead at 52-51, the Hogs had the crowd roaring.
Darius Acuff Jr. was electric during that stretch, pouring in 13 points in the blink of an eye. His scoring burst helped Arkansas build a 57-53 lead with just over 12 minutes left. The Razorbacks looked like they had taken control.
But Kentucky didn’t flinch.
Otega Oweh tied things up with a fastbreak dunk, and the teams traded punches from there. Acuff found Malique Ewin for a highlight-reel alley-oop to knot it at 61, and Richmond followed with a layup to tie it again at 63. But after that, it was all Kentucky.
Oweh and Moreno Lead the Way
Kentucky’s Otega Oweh was the best player on the floor Saturday night. He finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, doing damage inside and out while providing the kind of steady presence you need on the road in the SEC. Moreno added 11 points and seven boards, but it was his calm at the free throw line during that pivotal sequence that made the difference.
As a team, Kentucky won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding Arkansas 35-26 - a stat that loomed large in a game where possessions were at a premium.
Acuff Shines in Defeat
For Arkansas, Acuff led all scorers with 22 points, including 17 in the second half. He was relentless, attacking the rim, hitting tough shots, and keeping the Razorbacks in it when things started to slip.
Trevon Brazile nearly notched a double-double, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. Richmond added key energy off the bench, especially during Arkansas’s second-half surge.
But in the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome Kentucky’s timely execution and composure down the stretch.
First Half Recap: Kentucky Comes Out Hot
Kentucky wasted no time setting the tone, hitting 13 of their first 15 shots and building a 13-point lead midway through the first half. Arkansas responded with a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to four, but a scoring drought allowed the Wildcats to stretch the lead back to eight before the break.
The Wildcats led 42-35 at halftime, thanks in part to a 5-of-11 showing from beyond the arc. Arkansas, meanwhile, struggled from deep, hitting just 1-of-8 from three in the opening 20 minutes.
Second Half: High Efficiency, High Drama
The second half was a showcase of efficient offense, with both teams shooting over 50% from the field. Kentucky hit 61.9% of its shots in the second half, while Arkansas wasn’t far behind at 53.6%.
From deep, neither team found much rhythm - Kentucky went 1-of-2, Arkansas 2-of-6 - but the real difference came at the free throw line. The Wildcats made 16-of-25 from the stripe in the second half, while the Razorbacks went 10-of-17.
Oweh poured in 14 of his 24 points after halftime, while Acuff’s 17-point second half led all scorers.
What’s Next for Arkansas
The loss drops Arkansas to 12-1 at Bud Walton Arena this season and ends their impressive home win streak. Now, they face a tough stretch, playing three of their next four on the road.
It starts with a trip to Mississippi State on Feb. 7, followed by matchups at LSU (Feb. 10) and Alabama (Feb. 18).
The lone home game during that run? A Valentine’s Day showdown with Auburn on Feb.
This one stings for the Hogs, especially given how they battled back to take the lead. But in the SEC, there’s no time to dwell. The road ahead is unforgiving - and Arkansas will need to regroup quickly if they want to stay in the thick of the conference race.