Hogs hold off Louisville for timely 89–80 win at home

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas needed this one.

Not because it changes the season by itself, but because the Hogs finally showed what it looks like when their young talent plays with confidence and finishes a game against a ranked opponent.

An 89–80 win over No. 6 Louisville will do that for a team still trying to find its identity.

For weeks, Arkansas flashed both promise and inconsistency. The Hogs had stretches where they looked ready to take the next step, only to fade late.

This time, they built a big lead and made enough plays to hang on. It came with a little tension — Louisville cut the margin to four late — but Arkansas’ answer was firm.

Trevon Brazile delivered his best combination of timing and control all season. He scored 21 points, hitting 8 of 11 shots and piling up 17 of those points in the first half.

That early push set the tone in Bud Walton Arena and gave Arkansas a needed jolt after some uneven performances.

By the time Arkansas reached halftime with an 18-point cushion, it felt like the Razorbacks had finally caught a rhythm they had been searching for since the opener.

The crowd sensed it. The players sensed it. And after Louisville came storming back late, Brazile made sure his team didn’t lose it.

His alley-oop dunk from Darius Acuff Jr. with under three minutes left snapped Louisville’s rally and pushed Arkansas back in control.

It was the clearest sign of the night that this Arkansas team is growing up.

Brazile sets the tone early

The first half belonged to Brazile, who scored 14 of Arkansas’ first 23 points. Louisville had no real answer for him in space or on the glass.

It also helped that Arkansas did something that usually travels well — it made free throws.

The Hogs hit 27 of 35 from the stripe, a number that mattered as Louisville tried to grind its way back into the game.

Rebounding mattered, too. Arkansas won the glass 46–36, giving itself more chances while keeping Louisville from finding early second-chance points that often swing momentum in road games.

Along with Brazile, the young guards showed why this roster has so much upside. Acuff scored 17. Meleek Thomas matched him with 17 more.

Malique Ewin added 12, and Billy Richmond III scored 10. It wasn’t just a star night for Brazile — it was a reminder that Arkansas’ roster is deeper than it appears when the ball moves and players attack with purpose.

Louisville, meanwhile, struggled to get comfortable early, shooting only 33 percent before halftime.

The Cardinals were still tough and still pushed back, but the hole they dug lingered all night.

Louisville rallies, but Arkansas answers

Louisville’s second half showed why it’s ranked sixth.

The Cardinals shot 50 percent over the final 20 minutes, moved the ball better, and finally found ways to put Arkansas on its heels.

Mikel Brown Jr. led Louisville with 22 points, though his 2-for-13 shooting from three kept Arkansas from ever completely losing control.

Ryan Conwell added 15, but he struggled too, making only 4 of 16 shots. Louisville never led in the game but made Arkansas sweat for the first time all night as the margin shrank to four in the final minutes.

That’s when the Hogs’ answer came — the lob from Acuff, the dunk from Brazile, and the momentum swinging back toward Arkansas.

For a team that had seen games slip before, the response carried weight.

The Razorbacks still had to finish, and they did it at the free-throw line, where they had been steady all night.

That composure allowed Arkansas to walk off the floor with its best win of the young season and a reminder of how effective this roster can be when its leading scorers are engaged.

Needed step for Hogs as stretch continues

Arkansas moved to 6–2 with the win and stayed unbeaten at home.

For a program trying to rebuild confidence and sharpen its identity, beating a top-10 team matters — even in early December.

It wasn’t perfect. The Razorbacks let Louisville back into the game, and there will be film sessions that show missed rotations and lapses in focus. But the backbone of the win was clear with effort on the glass, strong free-throw shooting, and the kind of aggression that forces opponents into mistakes.

Louisville fell to 7–1, taking its first loss of the season. The Cardinals will return home to face Indiana and regroup.

Arkansas stays in-state for a neutral-site game against Fresno State in Little Rock on Saturday.

If the Hogs handle that matchup with the same energy and shot discipline they showed for most of Wednesday night, this win could be a turning point.

For now, though, it’s the kind of win Arkansas needed — something real to build on, something earned against a ranked team, and something that shows the Hogs might be figuring out who they are.

Key Takeaways

• Arkansas earned its first win over a ranked team this season, beating No. 6 Louisville with strong rebounding and free-throw shooting.

• Trevon Brazile scored 21 points and delivered the key alley-oop dunk that ended Louisville’s late rally.

• Louisville’s second-half push tested Arkansas, but the Hogs responded with poise and balanced scoring.