The Arkansas Razorbacks showed grit, composure, and a whole lot of firepower Tuesday night, rallying from a 13-point first-half deficit to take down the Oklahoma Sooners 83-79 in a tightly contested SEC battle at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
This one had all the makings of a trap game for Arkansas. On paper, the Razorbacks came in with the better record and more momentum, but Oklahoma wasn’t interested in playing the underdog role quietly-especially not on their home floor.
The Sooners came out swinging, building a 38-25 lead with just over seven minutes left in the first half. But Arkansas didn’t blink.
Instead, they dug in and chipped away, setting the stage for a second half that turned into a back-and-forth slugfest.
Leading the Razorbacks’ charge was freshman point guard Darius Acuff Jr., who continues to play beyond his years. Acuff dropped 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting and added nine assists, orchestrating the offense with poise and pace. He didn’t have his best night from beyond the arc-just 1-of-4 from deep-but his ability to control tempo and create for others was crucial in Arkansas’ comeback.
Fellow freshman Meleek Thomas was right there with him, pouring in 16 points on an efficient 7-of-15 from the field. His mid-range touch and ability to finish through contact gave the Razorbacks a steady scoring option throughout the night.
Oklahoma, to its credit, didn’t go quietly. Redshirt senior guard Nijel Pack led all scorers with 22 points, hitting 6-of-11 from three and 8-of-15 overall.
Every time Arkansas looked like it might pull away, Pack had an answer. His deep shooting kept the Sooners in it until the final buzzer.
Senior forward Tae Davis added 14 points for Oklahoma, but the Sooners couldn’t quite overcome the Razorbacks’ dominance inside. Arkansas outscored Oklahoma 56-30 in the paint, using their size and athleticism to carve up the interior.
That paint presence proved to be the difference, especially on a night when Arkansas shot just 2-of-17 from three-point range (11.8%). When the perimeter shots weren’t falling, the Hogs went to work inside-and it paid off.
Despite being out-rebounded 34-31, Arkansas made up for it with ball movement and shot selection. The Razorbacks finished with 16 assists to Oklahoma’s 12, a testament to their unselfish play and ability to generate high-percentage looks.
Oklahoma shot 46% from the field and 37% from three, knocking down 10 triples to Arkansas’ two. But the Razorbacks countered with a scorching 55.6% from the field overall, leaning into their strengths and not forcing what wasn’t there.
This win moves Arkansas to 6-2 in SEC play and 16-5 overall, continuing a strong stretch of conference basketball. It also marks the Razorbacks’ 18th win in the all-time series against Oklahoma, which dates back to 1938. The Sooners, now 1-7 in SEC play, showed fight and flashes of what they’re capable of, but couldn’t quite close the door on a surging Arkansas squad.
For the Hogs, this was more than just a road win-it was a test of resilience. They took a punch early, stayed composed, and leaned on their young backcourt to carry them home. If Acuff and Thomas keep playing with this kind of confidence, Arkansas is going to be a tough out for anyone in the SEC.