Razorbacks Turn the Page With Commanding 93–56 Win Over UCA

Arkansas basketball (2–1, 0–0 SEC) bounced back in style Tuesday night, cruising past the Central Arkansas Bears (1–2, 0–0 ASUN) with a commanding 93–56 victory in front of a home crowd.

After a tough loss earlier in the week to Michigan State, the Razorbacks were eager to respond. They struggled to pull away in the first half, but found their rhythm after the break. Leading just 43–34 at halftime, Arkansas erupted in the final 20 minutes, outscoring UCA 50–22 to secure their second win of the season and restore confidence.

The numbers were impressive. Arkansas shot 49.2% from the field (31 of 63) and 38.2% from beyond the arc (13 of 34). Central Arkansas, meanwhile, hit only 28.4% overall (19 of 67) and just 9.8% from three-point range (4 of 41). The Razorbacks also dominated the boards 49–35, controlled the tempo with 30 fast-break points to UCA’s 13, and finished with a 17–11 edge in assists.

It was the kind of all-around performance Razorback fans had been hoping for. While UCA wasn’t a tough team, the game showed clear improvement and gave Arkansas much-needed momentum heading into its next stretch of home matchups.

Knox Sets the Tone Early

Freshman forward Karter Knox wasted no time making his presence felt after a disastrous performance against Michigan, where he struggled to make an impact. He opened the game with a three-pointer on Arkansas’ first possession, then grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul to score the Razorbacks’ first five points.

By the first media timeout, Knox had already filled the stat sheet with 5 points, 5 rebounds (including two offensive boards), an assist, and a block, while UCA managed to hit just 1 of 9 shots from the field.

Coming out of the timeout, Knox stayed hot, drilling two more three-pointers to fuel an 8–0 Arkansas run. The Bears, however, refused to fade, taking advantage of a few sloppy Razorback possessions to trim the deficit to 25–18 midway through the first half.

Knox stopped UCA’s momentum with his fourth three-pointer of the night, extending Arkansas’s lead back to 10 before the under-eight timeout. Still, the Razorbacks couldn’t completely pull away, as turnovers and defensive lapses kept the Bears within reach.

A late dunk by Malique Ewin finally gave the Razorbacks a 43–34 halftime lead.

 By the break, Arkansas had six turnovers compared to UCA’s three, giving the Bears an 8–2 advantage in points off turnovers. UCA also edged the Hogs on the offensive glass, converting those chances into nine second-chance points.

The Impressive Second-Half Surge

Coming out of halftime, UCA continued to battle before freshman guard Darius Acuff ignited a decisive 9–2 run, pushing Arkansas ahead 56–39 at the first media timeout.

The Bears briefly responded with a 6–0 spurt as the Razorbacks went cold, hitting just one of seven shots over several possessions.

Leading 62–45, Meleek Thomas buried his third three-pointer of the night, and Acuff followed with a fast-break layup to stretch the margin to 22 points. From that point forward, Arkansas seized complete control.

Thomas later punctuated the performance with a powerful dunk at the 5:34 mark, extending the Razorbacks’ advantage to 82–51.

 Arkansas closed the game on a 34–11 run over the final 14 minutes, finishing with a commanding 37-point win.

Balanced Team Effort and Milestone Win

It would be unfair to draw comparisons between Michigan State and Central Arkansas, two programs that differ greatly in talent, depth, and overall style of play. Michigan State stands as a nationally ranked powerhouse, while Central Arkansas is a smaller in-state opponent. Still, for Arkansas, a win was both necessary and meaningful. Beyond the dominant score line, it provided the confidence boost the team and its fans had been waiting for.

The victory also carried personal significance for Hall of Fame coach John Calipari, who recorded his 879th career win, tying legendary Dean Smith for sixth place on the NCAA Division I all-time wins list.

The Razorbacks turned in a balanced, team-first performance. Four players finished in double figures, and six grabbed at least five rebounds. Darius Acuff led the charge with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Karter Knox recorded his first career double-double, contributing 19 points, 10 rebounds, a block, and a steal.

Up Next: Bulldogs Coming

Arkansas continues its four-game homestand Friday night when the Samford Bulldogs visit Bud Walton Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CST, with streaming available on SEC Network Plus.

The matchup presents another opportunity for the Razorbacks to maintain momentum and sharpen their form before hitting the road again later this month.