Acuff’s 49-point night wasted in 2OT loss at Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For 50 minutes, the night belonged to Darius Acuff.

The Arkansas freshman guard delivered a performance that will live in the record books, pouring in 49 points against No. 25 Alabama. But when the final horn sounded after two overtimes, the Razorbacks walked off the floor on the wrong end of a 117-115 loss.

Acuff’s scoring total set a program freshman record and became the second-highest single-game output in school history, trailing only Rotnei Clarke’s 51-point effort in 2009. It also marked the most points ever scored by a freshman against an AP-ranked opponent in college basketball history.

The Hogs needed every bit of it.

With Arkansas trailing late in regulation, Acuff buried a game-tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to force overtime. It was his sixth made 3 of the night, and it capped a stretch where he carried the offense possession after possession.

He played all 50 minutes.

Acuff finished 16 of 27 from the field, 6 of 10 from long range and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, adding five rebounds and five assists. It was the highest scoring performance ever by a John Calipari-coached college player.

Still, one final shot didn’t fall. Acuff missed a runner in the closing seconds of the second overtime that would have tied the program record. Malique Ewin’s follow-up dunk attempt rolled off, sealing the result.

“No excuses,” Calipari said. “We had our chances to win, missed a couple dunks, tried to go one-hand them. If you make those, the game’s over and you win. But I’m proud of these guys. Man, they fought.”

A star takes over

From the opening half, Acuff set the tone.

Arkansas trailed early after Alabama hit six of its first seven shots, prompting an early timeout from Calipari. The Razorbacks responded with a surge, and Acuff was at the center of it.

He scored 22 first-half points, helping Arkansas build a 57-47 lead at the break. It was the most first-half points the Hogs have scored in an SEC game since February 2015.

In the second half, when Alabama chipped away and eventually erased a 14-point deficit, Acuff answered again.

Over the final five minutes of regulation, he hit a fadeaway jumper, converted an and-one, finished a layup and drilled the tying 3-pointer that stunned the Tuscaloosa crowd. Every big possession ran through him.

“Obviously, our defense on Acuff wasn’t very good,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “But we had 2 more points than them at the end, and he missed a shot there at the end that we needed him to miss.”

Foul trouble and fatigue

As Acuff kept producing, Arkansas’ margin for error shrank.

Three players in the Razorbacks’ seven-man rotation — Meleek Thomas, Nick Pringle and Billy Richmond — fouled out during the overtime periods. With Karter Knox and Isaiah Sealy sidelined by injury, Arkansas leaned on reserves in key late possessions.

“The kids fought,” Calipari said. “I’m disappointed, but I’m proud of them. We were getting so many fouls called that it’s hard. They’re moving and jamming, and then we’re not getting to the line.”

Alabama shot 27 of 34 at the free-throw line, compared to 16 of 19 for the Hogs. The Crimson Tide also scored 58 points in the paint and shot 56% from the floor.

“We got to the line 19 times,” Calipari said. “They got to the line 34 times. And we’re a lane-touching team. But I guess their drive drew fouls and ours didn’t.”

Labaron Philon led Alabama with 35 points, while Aiden Sherrell added 26.

Sidebar: Thomas provides major support

While Acuff commanded the spotlight, Meleek Thomas quietly delivered one of his best outings of the season.

It would have been a headline on a lot of nights.

Thomas scored 24 points before fouling out, hitting key 3-pointers during Arkansas’ first-half run and stretching Alabama’s defense. He and Acuff combined to go 12 of 20 from beyond the arc.

“Meleek Thomas and Acuff had themselves quite a night — super efficient,” Oats said. “Combined, they went 12 for 20 from 3, which those two guys are really good players. I mean, there’s a reason they were rated as high as they were coming out of high school, and they showed why tonight.”

Billy Richmond added 20 points before fouling out, and together the trio accounted for 81% of Arkansas’ scoring.

But by the second overtime, depth became a problem. Alabama closed on key possessions, including a Houston Mallette 3-pointer that pushed the Tide ahead 117-113 with 51 seconds left.

“Those 3s were huge,” Oats said. “The one put us up 4 in the second overtime ended up winning us the game.”

In the end, it became a game defined by inches and endurance. Acuff delivered one of the greatest individual performances in Arkansas basketball history. The Razorbacks simply needed one more bounce.

“I played guys 40 minutes,” Calipari said. “I played guys every minute I could play them, and they were giving us everything they have. We can’t ask for anything more.”