Arkansas Dominates Early, Rolls Past LSU in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE - From the opening tip, No. 21 Arkansas made it clear: they came to impose their will. The Razorbacks stormed out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 91-62 win over LSU on Tuesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
This one was decided early. Arkansas built a double-digit lead just five minutes into the game and kept LSU at arm’s length the rest of the way. The Tigers had no answers for the Razorbacks’ relentless paint attack and struggled to find any rhythm offensively - both inside and out.
Razorbacks’ Freshmen Shine Bright
Arkansas’ backcourt was electric, led by freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who poured in 28 points and dished out five assists. He looked completely in control, unfazed by LSU’s defensive schemes and coverages. Whether it was navigating traps or making the right read in transition, Acuff played with the kind of poise that’s rare for a first-year player.
Meleek Thomas added 20 points of his own, giving Arkansas a dynamic one-two punch in the backcourt. Trevon Brazile was a force in the paint, finishing with a double-double - 14 points, 12 rebounds - and adding five blocks for good measure. Billy Richmond III chipped in 13 points, rounding out a balanced offensive effort.
A Night to Forget for LSU
For LSU, this was a game where nothing seemed to go right. The Tigers shot just 30.9% from the field and a cold 14.3% from beyond the arc (3-of-21). Even at the free throw line, where they had opportunities to chip away, they struggled - finishing 17-of-27.
Marquel Sutton led the Tigers with 18 points and six rebounds, fighting to keep LSU competitive. Pablo Tamba added 11 points and seven boards, while freshman Robert Miller III contributed 10 points and five rebounds.
But the real story was Arkansas’ dominance in the paint. The Razorbacks scored a staggering 64 points near the rim - nearly doubling LSU’s 34 - and made it look routine. Despite LSU outrebounding Arkansas 43-36 (including a 21-8 edge on the offensive glass), they couldn’t convert second-chance opportunities into momentum.
LSU Searching for Answers
After the game, LSU head coach Matt McMahon gave credit where it was due.
“Tremendous credit tonight to Arkansas,” McMahon said. “Their two freshman guards - Acuff and Thomas - were just fantastic.
Acuff plays with great poise. You throw different coverages at him, and he just makes the right play almost every time.”
McMahon pointed to Arkansas’ rim protection, led by Brazile, as a key difference-maker. “We had some opportunities on the offensive glass and around the rim, but we couldn’t finish,” he said. “When you’re struggling from three like we were, it’s tough to keep up with that kind of offensive firepower.”
The Tigers shot just 34% in the first half and went into the break trailing 42-27. McMahon noted the team’s inefficiency on offense as a major factor.
“We left some opportunities on the board,” he said. “We’ve got to be a lot more efficient offensively in the first half to keep it a single-digit game going into the break.”
LSU Players Reflect on the Loss
Fifth-year senior forward Marquel Sutton echoed his coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for unity in tough moments. “We have to stay together,” Sutton said.
“A game like this, we can’t separate. We’ve got to show that our brotherhood is still in full effect.”
Sutton also pointed to Arkansas’ physicality and ability to beat defenders off the dribble as key reasons for their success in the paint.
Graduate forward Pablo Tamba spoke candidly about the team’s mindset. “It was a confidence thing today,” Tamba said.
“We weren’t really confident when we went to the paint. At their place, we were much more aggressive.
That’s what was missing today.”
Tamba added that the team needs to rediscover its identity. “We’ve got to play with more confidence.
We’ve done it before, and I know we can do it again. We just have to find the right mindset.”
Calipari’s Razorbacks Hitting Their Stride
Arkansas head coach John Calipari was pleased with his team’s performance - and with good reason.
“We played really good today,” Calipari said. “This is more about us than it was about LSU.”
Calipari noted the recent improvements on the defensive end, saying the team had gone back to the basics of how his squads have traditionally guarded. “We had to change some things - pick-and-roll coverages, our pickup points, how we present ourselves defensively,” he said. “It’s made a difference.”
Even with the win, Calipari knows the road ahead won’t be easy. “We’ve got seven games left, all against the top of our league,” he said.
“We could lose all seven. Now we’ll see if we keep getting better - and maybe get healthy.”
What’s Next
LSU now hits the road for two tough matchups - first against Tennessee in Knoxville, then a trip to Austin to face Texas. After a night like this, the Tigers will be looking to regroup, refocus, and rediscover the confidence that’s eluded them in recent weeks.
For Arkansas, the win keeps their momentum rolling as they continue to climb the SEC standings. If their young backcourt keeps playing like this, the Razorbacks won’t just be a team to watch - they’ll be a team to fear.