#21 Arkansas Edges Winthrop

November 18, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas scored the last six points of the game, four by Nick Pringle, including the game winner with 11.9 seconds left, to give the 21st-ranked Razorbacks an 84-83 victory over Winthrop Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.

Meleek Thomas, who led all scorers with 26 points, came up with a steal with 15 seconds and an assist that resulted in Pringle’s game-winner. He then played solid defense on the final possession that resulted in a Winthrop miss as time expired and a Razorback win.

Arkansas was down five with two minutes to play. Neither team scored over the next 40 seconds until Pringle scored off a Billy Richmond III assist. On the ensuing possession, Trevon Brazile blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Darius Acuff Jr., who converted a layup to cut the Razorback deficit to one (83-82) with 37 seconds left.

With 15 seconds left, Thomas made an impressive defensive play to get the steal that led to Pringle’s game-winner. However, after the basket, there was a skirmish on the floor, but the fouls and technicals canceled each other out.

Winthrop’s leading scorer for the year, Daylen Berry, was tasked with taking the last shot. Thomas forced Berry to take a tough shot that was too strong as the clock expired.

Brazile finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Pringle had 13 and seven while Acuff added 12 points. Brazile and Pringle combined to make 10-of-11 shots from the field and 4-of-8 from the line.

The Eagles stayed close thanks to their 3-point shooting, making 15-of-31. Kareen Rozier scored 23 points, making 7-of-10 from deep, and Kody Clouet was 4-of-6 from deep to score 16 points.

Arkansas concludes its four-game homestand on Friday (Nov. 21) versus Jackson State (Nov. 21). Tipoff is set for 7 pm.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 43 – WIN: 41

Winthrop scored first and held the lead for most of the first 10 minutes.
Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile had back-to-back steals and baskets to give Arkansas a 29-28 lead. Overall, Arkansas went on an 11-0 run to lead 36-28.
Thomas led Arkansas with 13 points off the bench while Brazile had 1o points and six rebounds.
Winthrop’s Kody Clouet was 3-of-4 from 3-point range and led the Eagles with 13 points.
Arkansas was 12-of-12 at the line while Winthrop was just 2-of-2.
Winthrop was 7-of-16 from 3-point range to keep it close in the first half.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 41 – WIN: 42

There were six ties and six lead changes in the second half.
Winthrop used a 10-2 run, including a 7-0 spurt, to lead 60-59.
Winthrop sank a 3-pointer with 6:35 left to lead 71-70.
Darius Acuff answered with two free throws, then Billy Richmond made two for a 74-71 lead with 4:23 left.
The game was tied at 76 with 3:23 left. Winthrop’s Kareem Rozier drilled a 3-pointer and Logan Duncomb got a put-back with 2:28 left for a five-point lead.
The teams traded baskets and the Eagles led by five (83-78) with 2:00 to play and setup the exciting finish
Winthrop shot 50% from the field in the second half, but Arkansas made 60% of its field goal attempts.

NOTES:

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin. It was the first time for this starting lineup and the third starting lineup overall.
Winthrop won the opening tip.
Winthrop’s Kody Clouet scored the game’s first points with a 3-pointer at 19:46. Arkansas answered with a Karter Knox 3-pointer at 19:19.
Arkansas’s first subs were Nick Pringle, Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond III.
Arkansas is 2-0 all-time versus Winthrop and Coach Calipari is 4-0 all-time versus the Eagles.
Prior to the game, D.J. Wagner and Darius Acuff Jr. were named 2 of 50 players on the Wooden Award National Player of the Year Watch List.

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