Basketball (M)

Acuff Jr. scores 49 in double OT loss at #25 Bama

February 18, 2026
Final Stats

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Darius Acuff Jr. was sensational on Wednesday night inside Coleman Coliseum despite No. 20 Arkansas dropping a double overtime thriller at No. 25 Alabama.

Acuff Jr. was the best player on the floor in scoring 49 points to establish the most points scored in a single game by an Arkansas freshman, the most points in a Southeastern Conference game by a Razorback and fell just two points shy of Rotnei Clarke’s program record 51 points set in 2009 vs. Alcorn State. Acuff Jr. also broke Scotty Thurman’s single-season freshman scoring record, soaring past Thurman’s mark of 540 set in 1992-93. Acuff’s 49 points broke Todd Day’s scoring record in an SEC game from 1992 when he dropped 43 points on LSU at Baton Rouge.

Acuff Jr. set the tone early with 22 points in the first half and carried the Hogs into overtime when he sank his sixth 3-pointer of the night to match the Crimson Tide at 95-95. Arkansas was first to the century mark with a five-point spurt to start overtime with a DJ Wagner 3-pointer and a Billy Richmond jumper. Alabama, however, scored the next seven points to take the lead. A pair of free throws from Acuff Jr. gave the Razorbacks a brief lead with over a minute to go but Alabama knotted it with a pair of free throws.

With 1:31 remaining n the second overtime, Acuff Jr. sank three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer to give the Hogs a slim, one-point lead. Two more Bama free throws and a 3-pointer from Houston Mallette provided the dagger with under a minute left. Malique Ewin’s dunk attempt off a rebound of an Acuff Jr. missed runner bounced off the back iron as time expired.

Arkansas took a 10-point lead into the half with a 57-47 lead after shooting 60.5% but the Tide answered in the second half by shooting 76.5% and missing just five shots (16-of-21).

Three Hogs found double digits, led by Acuff’s historic night. The freshman filled the stat sheet with five rebounds and five assists with just one turnover while playing all 50 minutes. Meleek Thomas poured in 24 points fuled by 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range to go with six rebounds and Billy Richmond added 20 points and six rebounds.

Alabama was led by Labaron Philon’s 35 points and seven assists. Aiden Sherrell had 26 points and 13 rebounds while Amari Allen had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Aden Holloway was 5-of-5 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line in scoring 15 points.

The Razorbacks return home for a pair of games. First, on Saturday (Feb. 21), Arkansas hosts Missouri. Tipoff is set for 3 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN. Then, on Wednesday (Feb. 25), Arkansas hosts Texas A&M. Tipoff is set for 8 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 57 – ALA: 47

  • The 57 points in the first half are the second-most by Arkansas this season (60 vs Queens), the most in an SEC since 58 vs Auburn (2/10/15), most ever in an SEC road game vs an AP ranked opponent and second-most ever in an road game vs an AP ranked opponent in a road game. (HogStats)
  • Arkansas scored first but Alabama used a 10-run to take a 15=9 lead to force an early Arkansas timeout.
  • Arkansas used a 20-3 run (12-0 on the backend) to lead 37-23 with 8:51 left.
  • Alabama got back into the game with a 6-0 run to get to within eight (39-31).
  • Both teams closed the half well. Arkansas made its last four shots and Alabama made 5 of its last 7.
  • Darius Acuff Jr. set the Arkansas freshman scoring record with a 3-pointer at 9:48. It gave him 541 points, breaking the mark set by Scotty Thurman (540) in 1992-93.
  • Acuff finished with a first-half, career-best 22 points (8-of-13 • 4-of-5 3PT).
  • Meleek Thomas was also 4-of-5 from 3PT and scored 16 points.
  • Labaron Philon and Amari Allen led Alabama with 11 points each.
  • Arkansas shot 60.5% from the field and 61.5% from 3PT (8-of-13).
  • Alabama shot 51.4% from the field but was just 5-of-16 from 3PT (31.3%).
  • Arkansas had eight assists with just one turnover. Alabama only had two turnovers.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 38 – ALA: 48

  • Arkansas had an early 6-0 run to take a 65-51 lead and force an Alabama timeout.
  • Alabama made nine-straight field goals midway through the second half. The Crimson Tide went on a 15-2 run, including a 9-0 spurt, to tie the game at 77 with 8:45 left.
  • Billy Richmond III ended the run with a basket at 8:16.
  • Alabama grabbed its first lead, 80-79, with a 3-pointer by LaBaron Philon.
  • After Richmond’s basket, Arkansas did not score again until 5:21 left.
  • Arkansas was down five with 1:33 to play. Acuff answered with a basket and Meleek Thomas hits two free throws to make it a 1-point game with 25 ticks left.
  • Aden Holloway put the Tide back up by three with two free throws with 18 seconds left.
  • Acuff put the game in overtime with a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.
  • Acuff scored 19 in the second half.
  • Philon led Alabama with 19 second-half points.

1ST OVERTIME: ARK: 10 – ALA: 10

  • D.J. Wagner opened the first overtime with a 3-pointer.
  • Amari Allen made two free throws with 54 seconds left to tie the game at 105.
  • Both teams came up empty on their ensuing possessions.
  • Arkansas had two chances inside the final seven seconds but could not convert.

2ND OVERTIME: ARK: 10 – ALA: 12

  • Arkansas struck first with a Richmond 3-pointer.
  • The game was tied five times in the second OT.
  • Houston Mallette hot a 3-pointer and gave Alabama a four-point lead with 51 seconds left.
  • Trevon Brazile cut the lead in half with a dunk with 40 seconds left.
  • Arkansas played solid defense and Brazile got a defensive rebound with five seconds left.
  • Arkansas once again had two looks at time expired but came up empty.

NOTES:

  • For the fourth-straight game, Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, Billy Richmond III, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle.
  • Arkansas won the opening tip.
  • Darius Acuff Jr. scored the game’s first points with a jumper at 19:44.
  • Arkansas’s first subs were D.J. Wagner and Malique Ewin.
    • The 49 points are the most by a Razorback in an SEC game and the second-most by a Razorback all time (behind Rotnei Clarke’s 51 vs. Alcorn State 11/13/09)
    • The 49 points were also the most by a player coached by John Calipari.
    • The 16 field goals made tied the most by a Razorback in an SEC game. (Todd Day made 16 at LSU on 1/11/92). The 16 FG made ties for fourth-most by a Razorback in all games.
    • The 27 field goals attempted tie the most by a Razorback in an SEC game. (Courtney Fortson attempted 27 at Vanderbilt on 3/8/09). The 27 FG attempts ties for seventh-most by a Razorback in all games.
    • Acuff blew past Scotty Thurman for the most points by a Razorback freshman, now with 579 in 26 games.. Thurman scored 540 in 31 games in 1992-93. Acuff has also made 208 field goals, the most by a Razorback freshman to pass Thurman’s 204.Acuff scored 49 points and was 16-of-27 from the field overall, 6-of-10 from 3-point range and 111-of-12 from the free throw line.

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