Arkansas Opens Season with a 109-77 Win Over Southern

November 3, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE – Trevon Brazile recorded his 11th career double-double, scoring a career-high 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 43 points to lead #14/15 Arkansas to a 109-77 season-opening victory over Southern Monday night at Bud Walton Arena.

The 109 points tied the most by a Razorback team under Razorback head coach John Calipari, was the most in a season opener since scoring 142 in the 2020-21 season opener versus Mississippi Valley State and the fifth-most all-time in a season opener.

Brazile’s career-high 25 points came on the strength of going a career-best 8-of-10 at the free throw line. Overall, Arkansas went 25-of-29 at the free throw line. That 94.4% from the line ties as the eighth-best percentage by a Razorback team.

Acuff finished with 22 points, scoring 20 in the first half, while adding four assists. Thomas scored 21 points and tied for the team lead with seven assists while leading the team with three steals. Fellow freshman Isaiah Sealy added 12 points, going 6-of-6 at the free throw line.

Acuff (22 points) and Thomas (21 points) scored the second-most and third-most points by a Razorback freshman in a debut since freshmen became permanently eligible for the 1972-73 season. (Note: Patrick Beverley holds the Razorback scoring record by a freshman in a debut with 29 points versus Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 10, 2006.)

Thomas is the first Hog to post at least 18 points, six assists and three steals in a Razorback debut, regardless of class

Michael Jacobs led Southern with 22 points and Fazi Oshodi scored 15 points.

Up next, #14/15 Arkansas travels to Michigan State for a top 25 matchup with the #22/21 Spartans on Saturday (Nov. 8). Tipoff at the Breslin Center is set for 6 pm (CT)/7 pm (ET) and the game will be televised on FOX.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 57 – SOU: 32

Daius Acuff scored the Razorbacks’ last nine points of the first half and finished with 20 for the half. In fact, the 20 points are the most by a Razorback freshman in his collegiate debut.
Trevon Brazile, who had seven rebounds, and Meleek Thomas each added 10 points.
Southern scored first, then Arkansas went on a 12-0 run and led comfortably the rest of the half.
Both teams made six 3-pointers in the first half.
Arkansas shot 53.1 percent from the field and was an impressive 17-of-18 at the free throw line. Southern was just 4-of-9.
The 57 points tie for the 5th-most in a half in a season opener and the most since scoring 61 versus Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 25, 2020.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 52 – SOU: 45

Brazile scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half.
Arkansas shot 48.8% from the field in the second half but Southern made 45.7% of its shots.
The rebounding and free throws were nearly even, but Arkansas had 15 assists on 20 made baskets with just four turnovers. Southern only had four second-half assists with five turnovers.

NOTES:

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Billy Richmond III, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle.
Arkansas won the opening tip.
Southern scored first on a jumper in the lane by Cam Amboree at 19:18. Trevon Brazile scored the first points for Arkansas with a 3-pointer at 18:35.
• Arkansas’ first sub was Meleek Thomas.
Sophomore Billy Richmond III, who was 1 of 3 Razorbacks to play all 36 games last season, earned his first career start.
Arkansas is 4-0 all-time versus Southern. Coach Cal improves to 2-0 all-time versus the Jaguars.
Arkansas is 84-19 in season openers all-time and 93-10 in home openers. Overall, the Razorbacks have won 52 of the last 55 season openers.
The Razorbacks have won 52 straight home openers, including a 33-0 record in openers inside Bud Walton Arena.
Coach Calipari is 27-7 in season openers, including a 21-2 mark when those openers are at home. In home openers, Calipari is 31-3.
Coach Cal is now 22 wins shy of 900 on-court wins for his career.

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