Arkansas Downs Cincinnati in CareSource Invitational Exhibition Game

FAYETTEVILLE – The #14/15 Arkansas men’s basketball program led by 20 at halftime and used a 23-10 run to start the second half and cruised to an 89-61 victory over Cincinnati for an exhibition game at Bud Walton Arena dubbed the CareSource Invitational – Fayetteville, Supporting Mental Health.

The Cincinnati-Arkansas matchup is part of a broader, mission-aligned initiative sponsored by CareSource, a nonprofit managed care organization. The initiative aims to normalize the mental health conversation nationwide, break the stigma and promote the overall well-being of children and teens.

Arkansas had five players score in double figures, including a combined 35 points from freshmen Meleek Thomas (18 points) and Darius Acuff Jr. (17 points). Thomas also led the team with seven rebounds. Trevon Brazile had 15 points, Karter Knox had 13 and Billy Richmond III added 10.

Cincinnati only had one player score in double figures, Halvine Dzellat with 10 points.

Up next, Arkansas will play the second of its two charity exhibitions. The Razorbacks face the Memphis Tigers as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the Memphis women’s program, which hosts Vanderbilt at 5:30 pm (CT). Tipoff for the men’s game is set for 8 pm (CT). Both games will be broadcast on ESPNU.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 48 – CIN: 28

• Arkansas started the game with an alley-oop dunk by Trevon Brazile from Darius Acuff.
• Cincinnati answered with a 3-pointer but the Razorbacks took control after that. The Hogs made four straight baskets while Cincinnati was just 1-of-7 from the field to give Arkansas a 12-5 lead and forced a Bearcat timeout.
• Later, Arkansas used a 6-0 run capped by a fastbreak tomahawk dunk by Billy Richmond which forced a second Cincy timeout.
• After back-to-back 3-pointers by Cincinnati before a media timeout, Arkansas came out of the break with an 11-0 run to lead 39-22.
• Arkansas was led by Darius Acuff with 13 first-half points.
• The 48 points by Arkansas were its best first half in an exhibition versus an NCAA Division I opponent. The previous best was 45 last year versus #1 Kansas.
• Arkansas shot 53.1% from the field while Cincinnati shot just 27.8%.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 41 – CIN: 33

• Arkansas opened the second half with a 23-10 run.
• Meleek Thomas had a team-best 11 points in the second half.
• Much as it did in the first half, Arkansas shot 53.3% from the field while holding the Bearcats to 28.9%.

NOTES:

• This was Cincinnati’s second exhibition. The Bearcats went on the road and beat #7 Michigan last week, 100-98.
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle.
• Cincinnati won the opening tip.
• Arkansas scored first on an alley-oop dunk by Trevon Brazile from Darius Acuff Jr.
  • Arkansas’ first subs were Meleek Thomas, Billy Richmond III and Malique Ewin.
• Arkansas is 75-11 all-time in exhibition games, including a 67-9 mark in Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas has won 39 consecutive home exhibition games.
• Arkansas threw down a total of 11 dunks (one-third of its made field goals), including four from Brazile and three from Richmond.

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