OXFORD, Miss. — Arkansas didn’t need a perfect night to win on the road Wednesday.
It needed composure, free throws and a guard willing to slow everything down when Ole Miss tried to speed it up.
The Razorbacks checked those boxes and left Oxford with a 94-87 Southeastern Conference win over the Rebels, leaning on late execution rather than momentum or noise.
Darius Acuff Jr. scored 26 points and handed out nine assists as Arkansas improved to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in league play.
Ole Miss fell to 8-7 and 0-2 in the SEC after another competitive game that slipped away late.
Arkansas never fully pulled away, but it also never let the game tilt out of control.
Razorbacks build lead before halftime
The tone was set late in the first half.
After an even opening stretch, Arkansas put together a 10-2 run that created a 42-32 halftime lead. The Razorbacks didn’t overwhelm Ole Miss offensively, but they were efficient and limited mistakes.
That margin mattered the rest of the night.
Ole Miss spent much of the second half trying to chip away at the deficit rather than playing from even footing.
Arkansas never trailed after the early minutes.
Free throws decide the final minutes
As Ole Miss made its push late, the difference came at the free-throw line.
Arkansas went 22 of 30 from the stripe, repeatedly slowing the game and preventing the Rebels from finding rhythm. Acuff led the way, hitting 11 of 12 free throws and answering each Ole Miss surge with calm possessions.
When the Rebels cut the deficit to 91-87 in the final minute, Acuff knocked down a short jumper, then added free throws to close the game.
Trevon Brazile scored 18 points and also converted key free throws down the stretch to keep Arkansas in control.
Balanced scoring gives Arkansas options
Arkansas placed five players in double figures, a balance that prevented Ole Miss from focusing on one scorer.
Billy Richmond III and Meleek Thomas each finished with 13 points, while Karter Knox added 10.
That depth allowed Arkansas to maintain spacing and patience even when shots weren’t falling consistently.
The Razorbacks didn’t rely on a single run to finish the game.
They relied on options.
Rebels rally but come up short
Ole Miss received solid production across the lineup. Ilias Kamardine and Malik Dia scored 16 points each, AJ Storr added 12, Eduardo Klafke scored 11 in the second half and Patton Pinkins finished with 10.
The Rebels stayed within range most of the night and briefly made the final minutes uncomfortable.
What they couldn’t do was string together enough stops to flip the game.
Each push was met by free throws, clock control or both.
Arkansas starts conference play with control
Arkansas opened last season’s SEC slate with five straight losses before recovering late. This year’s group is taking a different approach.
The Razorbacks are winning close games early by limiting mistakes and closing at the line.
Wednesday’s win wasn’t flashy, but it was effective — especially in a league where road wins are scarce.
Arkansas travels to Auburn next, while Ole Miss returns home to face Missouri still searching for its first conference win.
