FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored 21 points to lead Arkansas past Central Arkansas 93-56 on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The win marked the Razorbacks’ 10th straight victory over their in-state rival, continuing a series that dates back to 1947.
Acuff made nine of 16 shots from the field and has now led Arkansas in scoring in each of its first three games this season.
The freshman guard hit a series of early 3-pointers that helped the Razorbacks separate in the first half before the defense took over in the second.
Karter Knox added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Arkansas, playing his most complete game of the young season after missing the opener with a toe injury and being limited in the second game.
Knox provided a strong inside presence to complement Acuff’s perimeter scoring as the Razorbacks built a double-digit lead that quickly ballooned after halftime.
Meleek Thomas scored 17 points, and Malique Ewin added 10, giving Arkansas four players in double figures.
The Razorbacks shot 49 percent from the field and assisted on more than half their made baskets, using balance and tempo to keep Central Arkansas off balance.
Arkansas opened the second half with a 12-2 run behind three consecutive 3-pointers from Acuff and a three-point play from Knox to push the margin to 20.
Later in the half, a 13-2 burst extended the lead even further as Central Arkansas struggled to find its rhythm.
The Bears went cold from the floor after the break, missing all 18 of their 3-point attempts in the second half and shooting only 25 percent overall.
They went nearly seven minutes without a field goal during Arkansas’ big run. Central Arkansas finished with just six assists compared with 15 turnovers, struggling against Arkansas’ pressure defense.
Central Arkansas fell to 1-2 with the loss. Tucker Anderson led the Bears with 12 points, and Camren Hunter scored 10. The Bears hit only four of their 27 shots from beyond the arc.
Arkansas, now 2-1 overall and 2-0 at home, rebounded from its narrow loss at Michigan State with improved ball movement and energy on both ends of the floor.
The Razorbacks outscored Central Arkansas 44-18 in the paint and held a 46-33 edge in rebounding.
“I thought our defensive effort was where it needed to be,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said. “We were more connected, more active. We’re still learning, but I liked the way we responded after the last game.”
The Razorbacks also showed greater depth in the frontcourt with Ewin’s play off the bench. His activity around the rim and rebounding helped maintain momentum when starters rested, giving Arkansas a steady interior presence throughout the night.
The victory marked another efficient showing from Acuff, who has quickly emerged as one of the SEC’s top freshmen.
His combination of scoring instincts and poise in transition continued to stand out as Arkansas pushed the pace against a smaller Central Arkansas lineup.
The Razorbacks led 47-27 at halftime and never looked back. Central Arkansas trimmed the deficit briefly to 15 midway through the second half, but Arkansas responded with another burst to put the game away for good.
Arkansas will remain at home to face Samford on Friday, seeking its third win of the season before heading into next week’s nonconference slate. Central Arkansas will return home to face the same Samford team later in the weekend.
Key takeaways
-
Darius Acuff Jr. led Arkansas in scoring for the third straight game.
-
The Razorbacks held Central Arkansas to 0-for-18 shooting from 3-point range in the second half.
-
Four Arkansas players reached double figures in a balanced performance.
