In a thrilling showdown in Fayetteville, Arkansas pulled off a commanding 99-84 victory over Texas A&M, despite a rocky start for star freshmen Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas. Texas A&M couldn't capitalize on the early struggles, and once the Razorbacks found their rhythm, they never looked back.
Billy Richmond III was on fire, scoring 21 points, marking his fourth consecutive game with 20 or more. Acuff shook off his early struggles, finishing with 22 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Texas A&M's press defense backfired, forcing only nine turnovers while allowing Arkansas to rack up 30 fast break points, most in the latter half.
The win elevates Arkansas to an 11-4 record in SEC play, keeping them tied for second with Alabama and in the running for a 3-seed in the SEC Tournament. With a two-game lead over the teams tied for fifth and holding tiebreakers against three of them (Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Missouri), the Razorbacks are in prime position for a double-bye.
The game turned on a pivotal 12-0 run led by Richmond and Malique Ewin, who contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Although Acuff struggled early, going 1 of 12 from the field, Arkansas seemed poised to dominate before a late Aggie surge closed the first half at 37-28.
The second half was an offensive showcase. Texas A&M narrowed the gap to four before Acuff returned from a brief rest to lead Arkansas with 17 points in the final stretch.
Despite shooting well, the Aggies couldn't keep up with Arkansas' shot volume. Their full-court press failed to disrupt the Razorbacks, who also controlled the boards, a key factor highlighted in our game preview.
Zach Clemence delivered an unexpectedly stellar performance for A&M, but it wasn't enough. Meanwhile, Ruben Dominguez, usually a scoring threat, was held scoreless in 12 minutes.
For Arkansas, Ewin has solidified his role as the starting center, playing 34 minutes and posting a +23 plus-minus. Nick Pringle saw limited action, playing just six minutes.
Arkansas' conditioning was impressive, with the team effectively running a six-man rotation. Despite this, they showed no signs of fatigue, outpacing the Aggies in the final minutes.
Looking ahead, Arkansas faces a tough challenge against the SEC leaders and defending national champions in Gainesville. Even with a loss, the Razorbacks remain in the hunt, especially with Florida's upcoming visit to Lexington. An Arkansas win could create an intriguing scenario where Razorback fans find themselves rooting for Kentucky to help secure an SEC title.
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