NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas needed time to get going, but once the Razorbacks found their rhythm, the game shifted fast.
At Simmons Bank Arena, the Hogs shook off a mistake-filled start and put together a sharp second half to earn an 82–58 win over Fresno State.
The early minutes were filled with missed shots, turnovers and uneven play, but the group kept defending and waited for the offense to warm up.
The first half offered few highlights. Arkansas shot poorly from long range and struggled to create steady offense.
Fresno State also had trouble scoring, which allowed the Razorbacks to hold a 34–24 lead at the break despite the rough start.
The game felt stuck, but Arkansas showed patience while searching for cleaner possessions.
Even with the slow beginning, the Razorbacks never appeared rattled. The defensive effort stayed firm, and their rotations limited Fresno State’s scoring chances
Hogs coach John Calipari’s group relied on intensity and energy to hold its narrow lead together.
The Razorbacks’ confidence grew during the final minutes of the first half, and Arkansas walked to the locker room believing a better stretch was coming.
From there, everything changed once players emerged for the second half. The crowd sensed it, too, waiting for a spark to turn the night around.
Arkansas flips momentum with early second-half burst
The second-half spark arrived immediately. On the first two possessions after the break, freshman Karter Knox buried back-to-back three-pointers to ignite the arena.
Those shots jump-started a 16–2 run that put Fresno State on its heels. Knox’s shot brought life to the Razorbacks and shifted the entire feel of the game.
As Arkansas pushed the lead out, the Bulldogs struggled to respond. The Hogs moved the ball cleaner, attacked space and played with a sharper pace.
Fresno State had little room to adjust once Arkansas scored in bunches.
Knox finished with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, a complete performance after a few difficult outings.
His early second-half threes were the turning point that Fresno State could never overcome.
The surge also opened the door for teammates to settle in. The Hogs began getting cleaner looks and continued to guard well on the other end.
The scoreboard stretched, and the pressure shifted firmly onto Fresno State.
Acuff takes control to guide Razorbacks forward
Once Knox sparked the run, freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. took over. Acuff scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the second half and added eight assists.
He found cracks in the defense, hit timely threes and delivered the steady presence Arkansas needed to close the game.
Acuff’s shots came in key stretches, halting any attempt Fresno State made to climb back into the game.
His poise helped Arkansas organize its offense when possessions slowed. After a quiet first half, he became the most reliable scorer on the floor.
DJ Wagner also reached double figures, finishing with 12 points.
It marked the first time since the Jackson State matchup that both Wagner and Knox scored at least 10 points in the same game. Their renewed confidence added balance to the lineup.
Together, Acuff, Knox and Wagner guided the Hogs through the best stretches of the night, turning what began as a sluggish performance into a comfortable win.
Physical play leads to late-game ejection
Even with the lead secure, the night wasn’t free of tension. With about 10 minutes to play, freshman Billy Richmond III delivered a powerful dunk that ignited the crowd.
Moments later, the emotions of the game swung the other way when Richmond caught a Fresno State player with an elbow on an inbound.
Officials reviewed the play and issued a flagrant-2 foul, throwing him out of the game.
It was another moment this season where Arkansas found itself in a physical confrontation. Earlier in the year, the final seconds against Winthrop nearly produced a similar scene.
Calipari noted that the Hogs must stay composed in tight situations, and Richmond’s exit served as another reminder.
Despite the ejection, Arkansas maintained control. The Hogs continued building their lead and closed out the remaining minutes without letting the moment derail their progress.
Needed reset as Arkansas moves deeper into season
The win gave the Razorbacks a boost at a time when consistency has been a challenge.
Arkansas has struggled in recent games against top opponents, and several players were looking to regain confidence.
Knox and Wagner delivered stronger efforts, while Acuff continued solidifying his role as a key decision-maker.
More importantly, the Hogs showed that even with a cold start, they can rely on defense and timely scoring bursts to create separation.
It was the type of second-half response that Calipari’s teams often produce when things begin to click.
Key takeaways
-
Arkansas used a 16–2 second-half run to break open a game that was tight early.
-
Darius Acuff Jr. led the way with 18 points and eight assists, while Knox and Wagner returned to double-figure scoring.
-
Billy Richmond III’s flagrant-2 ejection highlighted the need for better discipline in high-emotion moments.
