The Razorbacks are back at Bud Walton and ready to prove they belong back at the top of the rankings.
After opening the season ranked No. 14, the Arkansas Razorbacks have slipped to No.21 following a narrow loss at the hands of Tom Izzo and Michigan State. That tough loss on the road was defined by struggles on the glass and beyond the arc, with the Hogs pulling in just 33 rebounds compared to the Spartan’s 45, and shooting only 25% from three-point range. Returning home to Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas was determined to get back on track against University of Central Arkansas
The starting lineup featured Nick Pringle, Meleek Thomas, DJ Wagner, Darius Acuff Jr., and Karter Knox. Trevon Brazile was seen on the bench in his warmups. From the opening tip, the Hogs looked to establish a different tone. Karter Knox set the pace with an early three-pointer, and after a series of defensive stands and trips to the line, Arkansas quickly built a 10-2 lead. Acuff and Thomas added points inside and out, working through some missed opportunities from deep while keeping a high tempo. The Hogs capitalized on UCA turnovers and foul trouble, getting to the line often, and converting their chances. Pringle brought energy with a dunk, and Thomas drained a three as Arkansas built a sizable first-half lead. The defense forced mistakes and the bench provided valuable minutes, allowing Arkansas to enter halftime with a 43-34 lead.
The second half saw Arkansas ramp up the intensity. Knox hit two free throws out of the break, and Ewin scored inside to keep the momentum going. Darius Acuff Jr. then caught fire from beyond the three-point line, sinking three straight to give the hogs a 56-39 lead. By the midway point in the second half, Thomas and Acuff had combined for double-digit points, rebounds, and assists, while Knox was closing in on a double-double. Sealy also chipped in with key buckets as Arkansas expanded the lead to over 30 points. Arkansas continued to dominate on both ends, with Acuff blocking shots, Pringle and Sealy converting free throws, and Thomas sparking the team with a steal and dunk. The Razorbacks’ defense stifled UCA, leading to transition baskets and extending the margin.
The Razorbacks cruised to a convincing 93-55 victory. Acuff and Knox led the scoring while Thomas filled the box score and the team as a whole looked aggressive and balanced. The performance was a much-needed bounce back and proved that when Arkansas controls the glass, shares the ball, and plays with energy, they can really compete and go far in the tournament. This win put the Hogs back on track as they look to climb in the ranking and build momentum for the rest of the season.