Darius Acuff Jr. Delivers Career Night as No. 20 Arkansas Outlasts LSU
On a night when every possession mattered and the margin for error was razor-thin, Darius Acuff Jr. stepped up and delivered the kind of performance that turns heads and tilts seasons. The freshman guard poured in a career-high 31 points to lift No. 20 Arkansas past LSU in a gritty SEC battle at Bud Walton Arena.
Acuff didn’t just score - he took over. The Detroit native was surgical with his shot selection, going 13-of-19 from the field and knocking down 4-of-7 from deep. His final point, a clutch free throw in the closing seconds, gave the Razorbacks just enough breathing room to seal a four-point win over their border rival.
And make no mistake - this wasn’t just a hot hand. This was a team handing the keys to its youngest star and letting him drive.
Calipari Puts the Ball in Acuff’s Hands - and Gets Paid Off
Arkansas head coach John Calipari made it clear after the game: this was by design.
“What we did was, we said we're putting it in his hands and trying to space the court a little bit, give him room to go do something,” Calipari said. “His performance, I'm looking at it like, look, let's just put it in his hands. And he was terrific.”
That trust paid off. Acuff didn’t just light up the scoreboard - he orchestrated the offense, dishing out six assists and keeping LSU’s defense off balance all night. He played with the poise of a veteran and the fearlessness of a freshman who knows exactly how good he is.
A Rising Star in the SEC
Through 20 games, Acuff is averaging 19.2 points and 6.2 assists per game - numbers that already put him among the SEC’s elite guards. But it’s not just the stats that tell the story. It’s the moments he’s owning.
“He's who we go to whenever things are looking dry,” said forward Trevon Brazile. “He came through again for us tonight like he has all season.”
And that’s exactly what Acuff did against LSU - answered the call when Arkansas needed a spark. Whether it was a timely three, a crafty drive, or a slick pass, he found ways to make winning plays.
Razorbacks Climbing the SEC Ladder
With the win, Arkansas improves to 15-5 overall and 5-2 in SEC play, pulling into a tie for second place in the conference alongside Florida and Kentucky. It’s a big step forward for a team that’s starting to find its rhythm - and an even bigger statement from a freshman who’s quickly becoming the heartbeat of this Razorbacks squad.
Next up: a trip to Norman on Tuesday, where Arkansas will look to extend its win streak to three against the Oklahoma Sooners. If Acuff keeps playing like this, the Razorbacks are going to be a tough out for anyone in the SEC - and beyond.