EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 8: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks dribbles the ball during the game the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on November 8, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan.

Acuff's heroics lifts No. 15 Arkansas past Oklahoma

The Associated Press

3 months ago

Rey Del Rio / Getty Images Sport / Getty

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Freshman star Darius Acuff Jr. had 21 points and nine assists, and No. 15 Arkansas held off Oklahoma 83-79 on Tuesday night.

Meleek Thomas added 16 points for the Razorbacks (16-5, 6-2 Southeastern Conference), who have won four of their past five games.

Arkansas shot 55.6% from the field despite making just 2 of 17 3-pointers.

Nijel Pack scored 22 points for Oklahoma (11-10, 1-7 SEC), which lost its seventh straight. The Sooners were coming off a heartbreaking loss at Missouri on Saturday that included buzzer-beaters by the Tigers to tie late in regulation and win in overtime.

This game had a better atmosphere than most games at the Lloyd Noble Center. There was free admission because of the cold weather. A fair number of vocal Arkansas fans made the relatively short drive — the Arkansas campus is a 3 1/2-hour drive from Oklahoma's.

Pack scored 16 points in the first half to help Oklahoma take a 48-44 lead. The Sooners made 7-of-16 3-pointers before the break. Arkansas trailed despite shooting 61.3% from the field.

An alley-oop dunk by Trevon Brazile on a long pass from Acuff put the Razorbacks up 61-58, but the Sooners immediately responded with a 3-pointer by Jadon Jones to tie the score with just under 11 minutes remaining.

Arkansas led 71-70 with 4:31 remaining when Oklahoma's Derrion Reid went up for a shot and was fouled hard by Karter Knox. The foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1, and Reid made two free throws to give the Sooners the lead.

The game remained tight the rest of the way. Acuff made a driving layup and was fouled with 21 seconds left, and he made the free throw to put the Razorbacks up 81-79.