Arkansas Comes Up Short Against Houston as Acuff Shines in Loss

A four game winning streak came to an end Saturday, and the night served as a clear reality check for Arkansas. Facing one of the nation’s top teams, the Razorbacks were given a measuring stick of where they stand and what still needs work.

No. 14 Arkansas (9-3, 0-0 SEC) fell 94-85 to No. 8 Houston (11-1, 0-0 Big 12) in a Top 25 showdown at the Never Forget Tribute Classic. Despite showing resilience against a highly ranked opponent, Arkansas could not overcome turnovers, missed free throws, and defensive breakdowns. Those issues proved costly, even as the Razorbacks erased part of a 21-point first half deficit and pulled within seven in the second half.

Early Exchanges and a Houston Run

In Newark, New Jersey, Arkansas won the opening tip after Cenac committed a foul following the jump ball. Darius Acuff Jr. opened the scoring with a floater in the lane to give the Razorbacks a 2-0 lead. Cenac answered with a three-pointer to put Houston on the board, and the teams traded early baskets. D.J. Wagner finished a tough layup through traffic before Cenac responded with a midrange jumper to give Houston a 5-4 edge.

Emanuel Sharp then fouled Acuff, who split a pair of free throws. At the other end, Karter Knox fouled Uzan, but the veteran missed both attempts at the line. After Wagner turned the ball over, Kingston Flemings found Tugler on a middle ball screen for an easy layup. Another Arkansas turnover followed, and Flemings knocked down an elbow jumper to push Houston ahead 9-5.

After missed shots by both teams, Acuff found Knox on the left wing for an open three. Trevon Brazile fouled Flemings on a made layup, giving Houston an additional free throw opportunity coming out of a timeout. Houston led 11-8 at that point. Arkansas was shooting 3 of 6 from the field and 1 of 1 from three, but had already committed two turnovers and was being out-rebounded 6-3.

Sharp missed the free throw, and Wagner answered with a left-wing three for his second basket of the game. Houston responded immediately with a three from Walker. Another Arkansas turnover followed, and Flemings split a pair of free throws in transition. Acuff then found Billy Richmond III in the short corner for a jumper to cut the margin to 15-13.

In a game-changing sequence, Brazile was whistled for a foul on Uzan, leading to two free throws, and went to the bench with early foul trouble. Malique Ewin checked in alongside Knox. Ewin backed down Tugler and banked in a hook shot, but Uzan answered with a layup before Acuff raced back for a tough finish of his own.

Uzan then knocked down a three to spark a decisive Houston run. The Cougars dominated the offensive glass and forced repeated turnovers, pushing the lead to 28-17 at the second media timeout. With both Brazile and Knox sidelined by fouls, Arkansas struggled to respond.

The run continued after the break. Back-to-back layups by Tugler and Flemings followed two more Razorback turnovers, and a jumper by Uzan capped a 13-0 stretch. Acuff briefly slowed the momentum with two free throws, but Houston kept pressing. The Cougars extended the surge to 21-2, taking a 40-19 lead before the under-eight timeout.

Arkansas Responds Before Halftime

Billy Richmond III ignited a brief surge for Arkansas, knocking down a three and then coming up with a steal that led to a dunk, trimming the deficit to 40-24. By that point, the Razorbacks had already committed eight turnovers, which Houston converted into a 14-0 advantage in points off turnovers.

Following a missed Houston three, Malique Ewin finished a baseline dunk on a feed from Richmond. Uzan later split a pair of free throws, and Darius Acuff Jr. converted a runner while being fouled to cut the margin to 41-31. Tugler answered with a tough layup, and Houston shifted into a matchup zone after a timeout.

Ewin continued to battle on the glass, collecting multiple offensive rebounds, but Arkansas was unable to turn those chances into points. Richmond then fouled Emanuel Sharp, who made both free throws, and another Arkansas turnover helped push Houston’s lead to 45-33 at the under-four timeout.

Coming out of the break, Arkansas successfully challenged an out-of-bounds call. Acuff followed with a jumper, and Ewin split a pair of free throws after Sharp picked up his second foul. Richmond later committed his third foul, sending Walker to the line, where he made both attempts.

Ewin responded with free throws of his own, briefly bringing the Razorbacks within single digits. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch, with Acuff finishing the half with a driving layup as time expired. Houston held a 49-41 lead at halftime.

Second Half Push Falls Short

Houston opened the second half with a layup from Emanuel Sharp, but Darius Acuff Jr. quickly answered with a three-pointer, pulling Arkansas within seven. 

Malique Ewin missed two free throws, and Tugler responded with a layup. Ewin later split another pair at the line, bringing the score to 53-45.

Sharp then knocked down a three to extend Houston’s lead to 11, but Ewin responded after securing an offensive rebound. Uzan found Sharp for another three-pointer, and Arkansas missed several chances to close the gap before the under-16 timeout.

Sharp continued delivering key shots, including another three early in the stretch, stretching the lead to 14. Trevon Brazile scored his first points of the game at the free-throw line, and a flagrant foul on Lath gave Arkansas free throws and possession, though the Razorbacks could not convert.

Despite a runner from Acuff and a brief scoring lull for Houston, the Cougars regained control. Kingston Flemings finished a tough layup, and Houston led 68-54 at the under-12 timeout after Arkansas missed seven of eight shots.

Every Razorback basket was met with a quick response. Thomas hit a corner three, but Flemings answered with a layup. A turnover led to a Uzan layup, and Houston pushed the lead to 80-65 at the under-8 timeout.

Acuff stole the ball and scored to spark a potential Arkansas run, but McCarty quickly answered with a corner three. Late three-pointers by Richmond and Wagner trimmed the margin, but Walker’s corner three halted any momentum. Richmond added a layup while being fouled, yet Houston maintained control.

After a review upheld an offensive foul on Acuff, Ewin blocked a shot and forced a shot clock violation. Acuff later made two free throws to cut the deficit to 10, but Houston sealed the game at the line. A late three-pointer from Wagner set the final score at 94-85.

Acuff Leads Arkansas Effort

With Trevon Brazile sidelined, Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. led all scorers, recording a career-high 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He also added seven assists and five rebounds. Supporting Acuff’s effort, Malique Ewin posted a season-high 20 points and nine rebounds, while Billy Richmond III contributed 12 points and D.J. Wagner added 11 points along with two assists.

Arkansas finished the game shooting 28 of 57 from the field and 8 of 20 from three-point range, but missed 14 free throws and committed 12 turnovers. Houston converted 32 of 62 shots, including 11 of 25 from beyond the arc, and made 19 of 25 free throws. Emanuel Sharp and Kingston Flemings led the Cougars with 22 and 21 points, respectively, as Houston held the upper hand in nearly every statistical category.

Next Up: James Madison

Coach John Calipari and the Razorbacks will return to action after the Christmas break, facing James Madison University of the Sun Belt Conference at Bud Walton Arena on December 29 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. While Arkansas enters as the clear favorite, the team will look to address areas of improvement following Saturday’s loss to Houston.