Arkansas Survives LSU Scare, Remains Perfect at Home Behind Darius Acuff’s Heroics
A win might not always be pretty, but in the SEC, it’s always worth celebrating.
That was the underlying message from Arkansas head coach John Calipari after his 20th-ranked Razorbacks clawed their way past LSU, 85-81, on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena. It wasn’t a wire-to-wire showcase, but it was enough to keep Arkansas unbeaten at home and right on the heels of SEC-leading Texas A&M in the standings.
At 15-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play, the Razorbacks are starting to string things together. This marked their first set of back-to-back wins since the opening week of SEC action, and while it didn’t come easy, it came with the kind of grit Calipari’s been preaching all season.
SEC Chaos, Snowstorm or Not
On paper, LSU’s 1-6 conference record suggested Arkansas should cruise - especially in Fayetteville, even with the snowstorm that left the stands a little lighter than usual. But if you were flipping through SEC games on Saturday, you know better than to expect anything close to predictable.
Auburn walked into Gainesville and cooled off No. 16 Florida.
Texas ran Georgia out of the gym in the second half. Missouri needed a buzzer-beating three from their center to survive Oklahoma in overtime.
This is life in the SEC: every night’s a battle, every win earned.
Calipari was quick to point that out after the game, noting just how volatile the league has been.
“A lot of people lost today, because this league is that way,” he said. “There are no gimmes.”
And he’s right. Arkansas’ next test is a road trip to face Oklahoma - a team that just took Missouri to the brink. Calipari knows how tough that one’s going to be.
LSU’s X-Factor: Dedan Thomas Jr.
One reason this game didn’t go as smoothly as Arkansas fans might’ve hoped? LSU looked like a different team - because, in a lot of ways, they were.
Junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., a transfer from UNLV, is back in the lineup after missing time with a leg injury. Before he went down, LSU was 12-1.
With him back? They’re a threat again, and Calipari knows it.
Thomas dropped 18 points and dished out 5 assists against Arkansas, showing the kind of control and poise that makes him one of the most impactful guards in the league. He’s averaging 15.1 points and nearly 7 assists per game, and his presence changes the Tigers’ entire identity.
“They only had one loss, to Texas Tech, with him playing,” Calipari said. “So now they're a different team, and we knew they'd be different. I didn't know he'd have that kind of impact on the game.”
It’s safe to say the SEC standings may not reflect the full story when it comes to LSU - especially if Thomas continues to play like this.
A Tale of Two Halves
Arkansas didn’t look like a top-25 team in the first half. They looked flat, sluggish, and a step behind.
LSU brought the energy, the physicality, and the focus - and it showed on the scoreboard. The Tigers led 37-33 at halftime, and it felt like they were dictating the tempo.
“We weren't very good in the first half,” Calipari said. “They had more emotion.
They played harder. They were rougher.
They were more locked in than we were.”
But that changed after the break.
The second half belonged to Darius Acuff.
The freshman guard exploded for 24 of his season-high 31 points after halftime, putting on a clinic in shot-making and decision-making when it mattered most. Time and time again, Calipari put the ball in Acuff’s hands down the stretch, trusting him to navigate double teams and pressure. And the freshman delivered like a seasoned vet.
“Trying to get to a win,” Acuff said. “I feel like that's the only thing on my mind the last couple of minutes.”
That mindset - focused, unselfish, and relentless - is exactly what Arkansas needs from its young star if it wants to stay in the SEC title hunt.
Protecting Home Court, Eyeing the Bigger Picture
With the win, Arkansas improved to a perfect 12-0 at Bud Walton Arena this season. That kind of home-court dominance is going to be crucial as the conference race heats up, especially with only five home games left on the calendar.
For Calipari, the crowd - even in the middle of a snowstorm - made a difference.
“I think they're falling in love with this team,” he said. “Thank goodness we had a will to win the [final] 7-8 minutes.
But they didn't quit. You had to take the game.”
That’s what it came down to. Arkansas didn’t wait for LSU to fold.
They made the plays. They leaned on their freshman star.
They locked in when it counted.
And now, they’re one step closer to where they want to be - in the thick of the SEC title race, with momentum building and belief growing.
In this league, you don’t take any win for granted. Arkansas didn’t play its best game.
But it played well enough to win. And in late January, that’s what matters most.