Acuff, Richmond lead Hogs past Auburn in SEC win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas didn’t need a complicated formula Saturday night.

It needed shot-makers.

Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. delivered 31 points, tying his career high and knocking down seven 3-pointers.

Sophomore Billy Richmond followed with a career-best 25 points on 12-of-15 shooting.

That one-two punch pushed the Razorbacks past Auburn 88-75 at Bud Walton Arena.

For a team that absorbed a 22-point loss to the Tigers in January, this was a different version of the Hogs — steadier, sharper and powered by its backcourt.

Acuff set the tone early.

He wasn’t just scoring; he was stretching Auburn’s defense with every clean look beyond the arc.

By halftime, Arkansas held a 38-32 lead, competitive but far from secure.

The separation came quickly after the break.

Acuff opened the second half with three consecutive 3-pointers.

Just like that, a tight contest tilted.

Acuff ignites, Richmond finishes

The freshman’s shooting sparked a 15-2 run that forced Auburn into scramble mode.

Every possession seemed to flow through him, whether he was firing from deep or driving into the lane.

Acuff has now scored in double figures in every game this season and has topped 20 points in six straight outings.

His growth hasn’t been subtle.

But Arkansas didn’t rely on one player.

Richmond, now in his second season, provided balance and control.

He didn’t hunt shots. He converted them.

Cuts to the rim, finishes through contact, quick touches in transition — Richmond kept the offense efficient.

When Auburn trimmed the lead midway through the second half, Richmond responded with back-to-back baskets inside.

Acuff followed with another 3.

Momentum reset.

The Razorbacks outscored Auburn 50-43 in the second half and rarely looked rushed.

They finished with a 52-34 advantage in points in the paint and blocked 10 shots compared to Auburn’s three.

The rebounding numbers were close — Auburn edged Arkansas 34-31 — but the Hogs made their possessions count.

Auburn’s effort falls short

The Tigers weren’t without answers.

Tahaad Pettiford scored 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting, attacking off the dribble and keeping Auburn within reach.

KeShawn Murphy added 22 points and 12 rebounds, working effectively inside.

Beyond those two, though, offense stalled.

The rest of Auburn’s roster combined to shoot just 7-of-32 from the field.

Without leading scorer Keyshawn Hall, who was unavailable for disciplinary reasons, the Tigers lacked consistent perimeter support.

Arkansas took advantage by controlling tempo and forcing contested attempts late in possessions.

This time, the Razorbacks didn’t allow Auburn to dictate pace as it had in the earlier 95-73 meeting.

Instead, the Hogs leaned on their guard play and trusted execution.

It worked.

Backcourt blueprint moving forward

Saturday’s win wasn’t built on flash.

It was built on clarity.

Acuff supplied the spark — confident, fearless and willing to take the big shot.

Richmond supplied efficiency — poised, selective and steady.

Together, they combined for 56 of Arkansas’ 88 points.

That’s production that travels.

The Razorbacks improved to 19-6 overall and 9-3 in SEC play, positioning themselves for a key stretch run.

A road game at Alabama awaits, followed by home matchups against Missouri and Texas A&M.

If Arkansas continues to get this level of balance from its freshman scorer and sophomore finisher, the Hogs won’t need much else.

On a night where experience across the league often defines outcomes, it was a freshman and a sophomore who dictated everything that mattered.

And for Arkansas, that combination was enough.