Hogs’ freshmen make winning plays in tight Oklahoma road win

NORMAN, Okla. — This was the kind of road win that leaves teams believing it matters.

Arkansas went into the Lloyd Noble Center and pulled out an 83-79 victory against Oklahoma in a game that came down to the final seconds.

Razorback freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 24 second-half points to lead the way in a gritty, back-and-forth contest.

The Hogs entered the game as a top-15 team, but nothing about a hostile road environment made it easy.

Oklahoma’s Nigel Pack drained a 3-pointer with 1:27 left that put the Sooners up two (79-77), and it was at that moment that the freshmen took over.

On the next Razorbacks possession, Acuff went to the line and went 1-of-2 to cut the deficit to one. That free throw wasn’t glamorous, but it gave Arkansas momentum.

On the ensuing defensive stop, Acuff grabbed the rebound, went coast-to-coast and converted an old-fashioned three-point play for a 2-point Arkansas lead with 20 seconds left.

That sequence was about toughness, timing, and execution. Those feel louder on the road. But the Razorbacks weren’t finished.

On Oklahoma’s next possession, Trevon Brazile blocked a shot and Thomas got the rebound. He was fouled and made both free throws with 11 seconds left to seal the win.

With those two simple but immense plays, Arkansas turned a tight road test into tangible progress.

Hogs struggle through year with long ball

John Calipari’s team hadn’t been perfect from deep.

The Razorbacks entered the game leading the SEC in 3-point shooting, were just 2-of-17 from deep. They didn’t need the long ball to get it done in crunch time.

Instead, Arkansas out-scored the Sooners, 56-30, in the paint and shot 71.7% from 2-point range. It was the program’s sixth-best effort in that category.

That inside-out approach showed a group willing to do the hard things first.

For the Hogs, neither Acuff nor Thomas has ever lacked confidence.

“A mother of a kid we’re recruiting say, To be honest with you, I never thought you’d get those two to play together,’” Calipari said later. “I can’t believe it. I don’t know how you did it. But that’s getting really good players to give up something to be about each other. That’s what we do.”

Calipari’s point was simple: individual talent matters, but effective collaboration wins games — especially in hostile arenas.

For Thomas, the second half was a moment to elevate his game. The 247Sports recap detailed that after a slow first half, Thomas poured in 14 second-half points on 6-of-9 shooting, including those game-clinching free throws.

Acuff’s contribution reflected consistency and poise. He was relatively steady throughout, scoring 11 points in the first half and 10 in the second, highlighted by that go-ahead and-1 layup with 20 seconds left.

Getting back to basics finally closed win

This game wasn’t decided on flash or long distance. It was decided on rebounds, free throws, and timely finishes.

Arkansas got 12 points from Malique Ewin and 11 from Karter Knox, with Brazile adding seven points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots — contributions that underscored the team effort.

That’s the hallmark of a resilient road team: collective contributions, poise under pressure, and the willingness to complete possessions when the stakes are highest.

The Hogs will return home with this win behind them, preparing for Kentucky at Bud Walton Arena.

The SEC grind never gives a break, but Tuesday’s victory did something important. It reminded everyone that Arkansas can close tight games away from home.