Arkansas Outlasts Oklahoma in Wild Finish, 81-79
In a game that swung like a pendulum from start to finish, Arkansas found just enough late-game magic to escape Norman with a gritty 81-79 win over Oklahoma. It was Darius Acuff - the freshman guard who’s been growing up fast in front of our eyes - who delivered the knockout blow. With 21.2 seconds left, Acuff converted a clutch three-point play to give the Razorbacks the lead for good.
Oklahoma had one last chance after calling timeout with the ball in the frontcourt, but Arkansas’ defense held firm when it mattered most.
A Game of Runs, Threes, and Rim Attacks
This one was a tale of two styles. Oklahoma lived on the perimeter, bombing away with confidence, while Arkansas made its living at the rim. The Sooners knocked down nine threes, including six from Nigel Pack, who was fearless from deep - his last bomb from well beyond the arc gave Oklahoma a 79-77 lead with 1:14 to play.
But Arkansas, despite a brutal 2-for-16 night from beyond the arc, kept punching back inside. The Razorbacks feasted in the paint, exploiting Oklahoma’s rim protection - or lack thereof - down the stretch.
That was the difference. When the Sooners couldn’t keep Arkansas out of the lane, the Hogs made them pay.
Acuff’s Coming-Out Party
Darius Acuff was the engine behind Arkansas’ offense all night. He finished with 17 points and a career-best nine assists, orchestrating the attack with poise well beyond his years.
His connection with his teammates was on full display midway through the second half, when he lobbed a perfect alley-oop to Billy Richmond for a thunderous dunk after a Flagrant 1 foul on Karter Knox. That play capped a momentum-swinging sequence that had Arkansas fans on their feet.
Acuff wasn’t alone. Meleek Thomas added 10 points and started to find a rhythm offensively, even though the three-ball still wasn’t falling for him. Trevon Brazile also chipped in with a big dunk off another Acuff lob that briefly gave Arkansas a lead in a second half filled with lead changes and ties - 15 of them, to be exact.
Pack Powers Sooners, But It’s Not Enough
Nigel Pack was electric for Oklahoma, finishing with 19 points and six made threes. Every time Arkansas seemed to grab momentum, Pack had an answer - especially in the first half, when he buried back-to-back triples to keep the Razorbacks at bay.
Derrion Reid and Jadon Jones also gave the Sooners a spark, with Jones hitting a timely corner three to tie the game at 61 midway through the second half. But Oklahoma’s defense couldn’t hold up in crunch time. The Sooners were exposed inside, and that ultimately cost them.
First Half: A Fast-Paced Shootout
This one had fireworks from the jump. Oklahoma came out firing, hitting 16 of their first 27 shots and 5 of 9 from three. Reid and Pack both got hot early, and the Sooners built a 13-point lead midway through the first half.
But Arkansas clawed back. A 7-0 run, fueled by Acuff and Karter Knox, got the Razorbacks back within striking distance. They closed the half by hitting five of their last six shots - all at the rim - and trailed just 46-44 at the break despite some shaky defense.
Razorbacks Shake Off Road Woes
This win was big for Arkansas, especially considering their recent struggles on the road. After tough losses at Auburn and Georgia, the Razorbacks needed to prove they could win in a hostile environment. They did just that - and they did it by sticking to their identity.
John Calipari’s squad didn’t panic when the threes weren’t falling. They leaned on their physicality, their athleticism, and their ability to get high-percentage shots. That’s the kind of resilience you need in SEC play, especially away from home.
What’s Next
Arkansas came into this one ranked 15th in the country and riding a two-game win streak after taking care of Vanderbilt and LSU at home. But they hadn’t looked comfortable on the road since their SEC opener at Ole Miss. This win could be the confidence jolt they need with more tough road tests ahead.
For Oklahoma, it’s a painful seventh straight loss - and another heartbreaker. After falling in overtime to Missouri on a buzzer-beater, the Sooners once again came up just short. Porter Moser is now 3-2 against Arkansas, but this one will sting.
Still, if there’s a silver lining for Oklahoma, it’s that the offense is clicking. But until they tighten up the interior defense, close games like this may continue to slip away.
Bottom line: Arkansas didn’t shoot the lights out, but they found a way. And in the grind of SEC basketball, that’s what separates contenders from pretenders.