The Arkansas Razorbacks are heating up at just the right time.
On Saturday night in Bud Walton Arena, the No. 21-ranked Hogs (19-6, 9-3 SEC) handled business with an 88-75 win over Auburn (14-11, 5-7 SEC), riding a second-half surge powered by two of their youngest stars. After a tight first half that saw Arkansas holding a modest 38-32 lead, it was the backcourt brilliance of freshman Darius Acuff Jr. and the relentless energy of sophomore Billy Richmond that blew the game open and secured Arkansas’ third straight victory.
Let’s start with Acuff, who didn’t just lead Arkansas - he lit the place up. The freshman point guard played like a seasoned vet, dropping 31 points on a hyper-efficient 10-of-15 from the field, including a blistering 7-of-10 from beyond the arc.
That’s 70% from deep, and they weren’t just catch-and-shoot looks - Acuff was pulling up, creating space, and hitting tough shots in rhythm. Add in a team-high seven assists, and you’ve got a performance that puts him firmly on the radar as one of the SEC’s most dynamic young guards.
Right behind him was Richmond, who turned in a monster night of his own. The sophomore forward was nearly automatic, going 12-of-15 from the floor for 25 points and adding three steals to his stat line. Richmond’s ability to finish through contact and his nose for the ball on defense gave Arkansas a major edge, especially in transition and around the rim.
Despite Auburn’s best efforts, the Tigers couldn’t keep pace - though sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford certainly tried. Pettiford poured in 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three, showing off his scoring versatility and keeping Auburn within striking distance for much of the game. Senior forward Keshawn Murphy added 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, giving the Tigers a solid one-two punch, but it wasn’t enough to match Arkansas’ firepower.
The stat sheet tells the story of a game where Arkansas simply executed better. The Razorbacks shot a scorching 57.4% from the field (35-of-61) and hit 38.1% from three (8-of-21).
Auburn, meanwhile, struggled to find the same rhythm, shooting just 40.9% from the floor and 31.6% from deep. The Tigers did win the rebounding battle 34-31, but Arkansas dominated where it mattered most - points in the paint (52-34) and blocks (10-3), using their length and athleticism to control the interior.
It’s also worth noting that this game had a bit of extra juice. Arkansas was looking to even the season series after dropping the first matchup to Auburn, and with the Hogs now at full strength and Auburn missing key pieces, the opportunity was there - and Arkansas took full advantage.
The starting five for Arkansas featured Acuff, Meleek Thomas, Richmond, Trevon Brazile, and Nick Pringle - a group that’s starting to find its groove as the season winds into its final stretch. Auburn countered with Pettiford, Kevin Overton, Elyjah Freeman, Sebastian Williams-Adams, and Murphy, but they couldn’t match the Razorbacks’ second-half intensity.
The crowd in Fayetteville was fired up from the opening tip, and the energy inside Bud Walton Arena was palpable. With this win, Arkansas continues to build momentum heading into the final weeks of SEC play. If Acuff and Richmond keep playing like this, the Razorbacks won’t just be a tough out - they’ll be a real threat in March.