Razorbacks fall to No. 8 Houston in New Jersey despite Acuff’s 27

Arkansas walked into the Prudential Center knowing it was stepping into a test built on discipline and detail.

Houston does not play fast and loose. The Cougars wait patiently for mistakes and then turns them into points.

The Razorbacks opened the game with confidence, scoring first and briefly grabbing the lead. That moment did not last long.

Houston answered quickly, tightening its defense and finding clean looks on the offensive end.

From there, Arkansas spent most of the night trying to keep pace. The Hogs competed on every possession, but they were rarely in control. Each small error felt larger because Houston rarely wasted opportunities.

Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. refused to let the game drift away. He attacked the lane, hit shots off the dribble, and created chances for teammates. By the end of the night, Acuff had scored 27 points and handed out seven assists, numbers that reflected both production and responsibility.

Malique Ewin gave Arkansas a lift off the bench. He scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, offering energy and physical play when the Razorbacks needed stability. His minutes helped keep Arkansas within reach when Houston threatened to stretch the lead.

Still, Houston’s advantage grew in quiet ways. The Cougars turned 12 Arkansas turnovers into 19 points. Each mistake felt like a tax Arkansas could not afford to pay.

By halftime, the Razorbacks were still close enough to believe. They were also aware that the margin for error had already thinned.

Houston’s control came through precision, not panic

Houston did not overwhelm Arkansas with speed or size. It did something more frustrating. It stayed composed.

The Cougars shot 52% from the field and 44% from three-point range. Emanuel Sharp led Houston with 22 points, while Kingston Flemings added 21. Shots came from inside the offense, often after Arkansas was forced to rotate or recover from a turnover.

The Razorbacks defended with effort, but effort alone did not erase breakdowns. When Arkansas missed assignments, Houston made shots. When Arkansas rushed possessions, Houston calmly converted the other way.

One key stretch came midway through the second half. Chase McCarty knocked down a three-pointer that pushed the Houston lead to 83-67. Arkansas answered, but the gap never fully closed again.

The Hogs continued to fight. They attacked the basket and pushed tempo when possible. Arkansas actually outscored Houston by one point in the second half, but the Cougars’ first-half cushion proved stubborn.

Free throws became another quiet problem. Arkansas attempted 35 but made only 21. In a game played within single digits for long stretches, those missed points lingered.

Foul trouble also shifted the balance. Trevon Brazile picked up two fouls in the first six minutes and sat until the second half. He finished with five points, limited in rhythm and opportunity. Without his early presence, Arkansas lost some of its interior stability.

Despite those challenges, Arkansas never stopped competing.

The Razorbacks continued to push, driven by Acuff’s confidence and Ewin’s physical play.

But Houston never wavered.

Razorbacks leave with lessons, not moral wins

Arkansas led the game for just over a minute. The rest of the night was spent chasing a team that rarely loses focus.

That does not mean the night lacked value. The Razorbacks saw what consistency looks like at the highest level. They also saw how thin the line is between staying close and flipping a game.

Acuff’s performance stood out as a glimpse of what Arkansas is building around. He handled pressure, made decisions, and looked comfortable being the focal point against a top-10 opponent.

Ewin’s night reinforced the value of depth. His production off the bench mattered, even as other areas struggled.

The difference came down to details. Turnovers. Free throws. Early fouls. Each one chipped away at Arkansas’ chances.

The Razorbacks leave Newark with a 9-3 record and a clear understanding of where improvement must come. Effort is not the issue. Execution remains the challenge.

Arkansas will return home knowing that growth often shows itself in games like this, even when the scoreboard does not reward it.

Key takeaways

• Turnovers, missed free throws, and early foul trouble were decisive in Arkansas’ 94-85 loss to No. 8 Houston.

• Darius Acuff Jr. scored 27 points and added seven assists to lead the Razorbacks against a top-10 opponent.

• Malique Ewin delivered 20 points and nine rebounds off the bench, providing needed depth for Arkansas.