Arkansas walked into Dallas on Saturday looking like a team that still remembered last March.
The Razorbacks lost to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 a year ago, and the feeling stayed with the returners.
This time, the outcome flipped.
A slow first half turned into a 93–86 win after a much better second half built on Trevon Brazile’s power around the rim and long scoring swings from the backcourt.
Texas Tech had control early with Christian Anderson and JT Toppin carrying most of the Red Raiders’ offense. Tech’s inside-outside mix gave Arkansas issues, and the Hogs trailed at halftime.
Still, the second half showed a different approach, one that head coach John Calipari said came from growing trust within the group.
“I’m really proud of the guys,” Calipari said afterward. “My job is to get individual players to play better. That’s a name on the back.”
For the Razorbacks, this wasn’t framed as revenge in the locker room, but the players knew the meaning. Last year’s tournament loss came after Arkansas gave up a lead. This time, they were the ones storming back.
“This was 100% a personal game,” Brazile said. “Especially for the returners. I know we had this one circled.”
His teammates felt it too. The game may not have been circled on a public schedule, but the energy after the final horn said enough.
Brazile and Acuff control stretch run
The turning point came midway through the second half when Brazile and freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. scored 19 straight for the Hogs. At the time, Arkansas trailed by six, and the game felt like it might drift away.
Instead, the Razorbacks leaned into a two-man rhythm that Texas Tech couldn’t solve.
Brazile finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, nearly matching his season best. His scoring stretch included drives, put-backs, and free throws, but the bigger impact was the way he forced Tech to shift its defense.
That opened space for Acuff Jr., who added 20 points and eight assists.
The freshman’s calm presence helped Arkansas organize its offense while playing uphill. His playmaking kept possessions steady, something that mattered when Tech’s guards tried to speed up the game.
For a group still learning Calipari’s style, it was important that the ball stayed under control.
Texas Tech’s star duo still posted numbers, but the Razorbacks’ push arrived at the right moment. Anderson finished with 22 points, while Toppin added a double-double with 11 rebounds.
But Toppin’s 2-for-7 showing at the free throw line was a problem as the game tightened. Arkansas, by contrast, shot 26 free throws to Tech’s 10, and that gap mattered.
Hogs rely on balanced scoring, growing identity
The Hogs didn’t win off one hot hand. They won because three different players reached 20 points.
Karter Knox joined Brazile and Acuff Jr. as Arkansas’ third scorer with 20 on the night, his second such performance against Texas Tech and his third of the season.
Knox hit big shots in the second half, especially when Tech tried to double Brazile in the paint.
Rebounding also tilted in Arkansas’ favor. The Razorbacks won the glass 40–33 and grabbed timely offensive boards that kept possessions alive.
That helped slow down Tech’s pace and allowed Arkansas to string together cleaner trips. The Red Raiders’ struggles at the line, mixed with Arkansas’ success getting there, formed the combination that separated the two teams in the final minutes.
Calipari said the difference was not only physical play but improved timing and trust.
“They’re more connected,” he said. “Each week that goes by, we seem to be more connected, and we can do things out of timeouts and late in the game.”
That connection was visible in Dallas. Even as Arkansas trailed, the group never lost shape.
When the Razorbacks made their push, it looked organized, not rushed. That alone marks progress.
Arkansas sees signs of team turning corner
This win marked three straight for Arkansas and its second win over a ranked opponent this season, following a road victory at Louisville.
For a program trying to establish a steady identity after last year’s uneven play, stacking these performances matters.
The Razorbacks now return home to host Queens on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena, another chance to build rhythm before the heart of the schedule arrives.
The Hogs will still need to clean up slow starts, but a strong second half on a neutral floor against a ranked team shows how far they have come in a short time.
Arkansas left Dallas with something more useful than fan chatter about revenge. It left with evidence that when Brazile anchors the interior and the guards play with control, the Razorbacks can handle difficult matchups. That’s the part Calipari wants to bottle.
Key takeaways
-
Brazile’s second-half run powered Arkansas back from a deficit and set the tone for the win.
-
Acuff Jr. and Knox added 20 points each, giving the Razorbacks needed balance.
-
Calipari says the team is “more connected,” and late-game execution showed that progress.
