Sometimes a tough loss can spark a response.
After falling to Florida last weekend, No. 20 Arkansas returned home Wednesday night and delivered a strong answer with a 105-85 win over Texas at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks used a fast start and steady offense to take control early. The victory improved Arkansas to 22-8 overall and 12-5 in SEC play while helping secure a double bye in the upcoming conference tournament.
Texas dropped to 18-12 overall and 9-8 in the SEC after struggling to slow the Hogs’ scoring attack.
Arkansas quickly found its rhythm on offense and built separation before halftime.
The Razorbacks continued scoring throughout the second half and rarely allowed the Longhorns to threaten the lead.
It was a different result from the previous game against Florida, when Arkansas struggled to keep pace.
Instead, the Hogs responded with one of their most productive offensive performances of the season.
The bounce-back effort showed a team capable of quickly moving forward after a difficult night.
Razorbacks take control early
Arkansas wasted little time building momentum at Bud Walton Arena.
The Hogs pushed the pace and created open shots during the early minutes of the game.
Arkansas moved the ball well and consistently found scoring chances both inside and beyond the arc.
By halftime, the Razorbacks held a 56-34 lead after a strong offensive half.
Texas attempted to cut into the margin after the break but never got close enough to seriously challenge.
Arkansas shot 58 percent from the field for the game and connected on 11 three-point attempts.
Texas finished shooting 49 percent but struggled to slow the Razorbacks once the lead grew.
Arkansas also held a 35-31 edge in rebounds while converting 24 of 30 free throws.
Those numbers helped the Hogs maintain control even as both teams continued to score.
Acuff, Brazile lead Hogs’ offense
Two players stood out in the victory for Arkansas.
Darius Acuff Jr. directed the offense and finished with 28 points along with 13 assists.
His ability to find teammates and create scoring chances helped the Razorbacks maintain offensive flow throughout the night.
Trevon Brazile also scored 28 points, recording a career-high total.
The forward contributed key baskets while helping Arkansas extend its lead in the second half.
The combination of Acuff’s playmaking and Brazile’s scoring proved difficult for Texas to contain.
Arkansas eventually built a lead as large as 28 points during the game.
The Razorbacks led for nearly the entire contest and controlled the tempo from start to finish.
Arkansas locks up tournament bye
Beyond the final score, the result carried important postseason impact.
With the win over Texas, Arkansas secured a double bye in the SEC Tournament.
That means the Razorbacks will begin play in the quarterfinal round rather than the opening games.
The extra rest could provide a valuable advantage as teams compete for the conference title.
Arkansas also protected its home floor and continued building momentum late in the regular season.
The response after the Florida loss showed the Razorbacks’ ability to regroup quickly.
As postseason play approaches, Arkansas now carries a strong performance into the final stretch of the schedule.
