Arkansas Triumphs Over Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. — In a thrilling showdown on Tuesday night, No. 15 Arkansas secured an 83-79 victory against Oklahoma, bolstered by the impressive performance of freshman Darius Acuff Jr., who notched 21 points and dished out nine assists. This win marks the Razorbacks’ fourth triumph in a span of five games, improving their record to 16-5 and 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
Game Highlights
The Razorbacks demonstrated remarkable efficiency on the court, achieving a shooting accuracy of 55.6%, even though their attempts from beyond the arc were below average—hitting only 2 of 17 three-point shots. Meleek Thomas contributed significantly to the win, adding 16 points to the Razorbacks’ tally.
On the other side, Oklahoma faced its seventh successive defeat, with Nijel Pack scoring a standout 22 points. The Sooners, who now hold a record of 11-10 and 1-7 in the SEC, were attempting to recover from a narrow loss to Missouri that involved a dramatic finish with late buzzer-beaters.
Atmosphere and First Half
The atmosphere at the Lloyd Noble Center was notably lively, partly due to free entry offered because of the chilly weather, and many enthusiastic Arkansas supporters made the 3.5-hour journey from their campus to cheer on their team.
In a competitive first half, Oklahoma’s Pack helped the Sooners establish a 48-44 lead by contributing 16 points. The Sooners displayed a sharp shooting touch from three-point range, connecting on 7 of 16 attempts before halftime. Despite the Razorbacks shooting at an impressive 61.3% from the field during the same period, they found themselves trailing.
Second Half Action
The game’s intensity heightened in the second half when Trevon Brazile executed a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk, courtesy of a long pass from Acuff, putting Arkansas ahead at 61-58. However, Jadon Jones of Oklahoma quickly answered with a three-pointer to level the score.
As the contest neared its conclusion, the teams traded leads with Arkansas holding a slim 71-70 advantage with just over four minutes left. A foul by Karter Knox on Oklahoma’s Derrion Reid prompted an upgrade to a Flagrant 1, allowing Reid to convert two free throws and give the Sooners a brief lead.
Clutch Moments
The tension in the final moments was palpable, as Acuff delivered a critical layup and converted a free throw to push Arkansas ahead 81-79 with just 21 seconds on the clock. Following a crucial block by Brazile on Oklahoma’s Xzayvier Brown, Thomas sealed the game with two successful free throws.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Arkansas will host Kentucky on Saturday, while Oklahoma prepares for another home match against Texas.
