Darius Acuff Jr.’s takes over, powers No. 20 Arkansas over LSU

Darius Acuff Jr. scored 24 of his career-high 31 points in the second half and the No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks overcame an eight-point deficit before holding off LSU 85-81 in an SEC game Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Acuff, the only freshman in NCAA Division I averaging at least 19 points and six assists, scored nine straight Arkansas points and had 12 of 15 as the Razorbacks turned a 59-56 deficit into a 71-67 lead with six minutes remaining.

He was 13 of 19 from the field and made four of seven 3-pointers as the Razorbacks (15-5, 5-2 SEC) improved to 12-0 at home this season.

Acuff's 3-pointer gave the Razorbacks their biggest lead, 77-69, with five minutes remaining.

Mike Nwoko scored 17 points for the Tigers (13-7, 1-6), who led 45-37 two minutes into the second half. Dedan Thomas Jr. had 15 points and five assists; Pablo Tamba had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Thomas' 3-pointer brought LSU close at 79-75 with 3:47 remaining, and his jumper with 1:54 remaining trimmed Arkansas' lead to 81-79.

Trevon Brazile's 3-pointer pushed the lead to 84-79, the Hogs' 11th field goal in their last 12 attempts, before Thomas made a short jumper to close to 84-81. Acuff missed two free throws, but LSU missed a shot at the other end and the Razorbacks held on.

Meleek Thomas had 14 points, and Billy Richmond III had 11 points for Arkansas in a game that featured six ties and 13 lead changes.

Acuff was 10 of 11 with five assists in the second half, in which the Razorbacks scored 52 points and shot 67.7 percent from the field.

LSU led 45-37 early in the second half before the Razorbacks got six points from Acuff in a 13-5 Arkansas run to tie the game at 50 with 12:56 remaining.

Arkansas has won 16 straight home games since an 85-81 loss to Alabama on Feb. 8, 2025.

The game started two hours earlier than previously scheduled because of a winter storm. The temperature in Fayetteville was 13° F at tipoff.