Razorbacks Overwhelm Jackson State with Season Best Scoring and a Barrage of Dunks

Pure display of dominance as No. 21 Arkansas basketball (5-1, 0-0 SEC) left no opening for winless Jackson State (0-5, 0-0 SWAC) on Friday night in Fayetteville, rolling to a 115-61 victory. The Razorbacks delivered 15 dunks, had seven players score in double figures, and shot 63.9 percent from the field in the blowout.

In a rout that produced their highest point total since 2015, Arkansas seized control early. After the first media timeout, one of the few moments the score remained competitive, the Razorbacks took over and carried a commanding 47-19 lead into halftime. Jackson State showed no signs of a second half recovery, and the margin continued to widen as Arkansas applied pressure. With less than five minutes left, Arkansas surged to 107-43, a 64 point advantage that stood as their largest lead of the night.

Early Struggles Give Way to a Runaway Start

Arkansas won the opening tip, but the early minutes lacked polish. Acuff’s runner rimmed out, Pringle’s follow missed, and even after a strong defensive stand that forced a shot clock violation, the Hogs still could not get on the board. McMillian finally broke the ice with a second chance layup, starting the scoring for both teams. Pringle followed with two free throws, and Mitchell soon grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked it out for a McMillian three, giving Arkansas a 5-2 lead. Brazile answered with a putback, Knox buried a three, and Mitchell added two free throws, tying the score 7-7 at the first media timeout. It would be the final moment the game felt competitive.

Out of the break, Brazile rose for a dunk that shifted the momentum sharply. Arkansas forced another shot clock violation, and Thomas shook his defender before knocking down a straightaway three. His surge continued as he hit Richmond in stride from halfcourt for an alley oop, then connected with him again seconds later for another slam. Richmond followed with a fast break alley oop to Ewin.

 The 11-0 run pushed Arkansas ahead 18-7 and forced JSU to regroup with a timeout.

JSU ended its drought with a Kolev second chance jumper, but Arkansas answered immediately. Knox grabbed a rebound and fed Thomas for a soft runner, and Ewin added two free throws. Jackson State pieced together a quick 5-0 burst, only for Acuff to match it with five straight of his own, a corner three and a transition dunk, stretching the margin to 27-14. Hoover hit a turnaround, but Richmond countered with a smooth Eurostep in transition. Wagner added a steal and dunk, sending Arkansas into the under eight timeout up 31-16.

Closing the First Half with Authority

Mitchell hit a three after play resumed, but neither team found much consistency. Turnovers and missed shots piled up until JSU called timeout with 4:31 left and Arkansas leading 31-19.

Richmond broke a nearly three minute Razorback drought with a follow slam off Knox’s missed three, extending the margin to 33-19. 

The remainder of the half became a free throw parade. Knox and Thomas each split a pair, Brazile knocked down two, and Richmond added two more. With 1:28 left, Wagner drilled a three, Arkansas’s first field goal since the score was 33-19. Knox added another three on the next possession. After a Simmons miss, Pringle pushed the ball ahead to Thomas, who finished a spinning layup in transition.

Arkansas entered halftime ahead 47-19 after closing the half on a dominant 16-0 run and outscoring JSU 20-3 over the final 6:43. Jackson State made one of its final fourteen shots, committed five turnovers in the final 7:46, and went scoreless over the final 5:48.

Razorbacks Keep Pouring It On

Knox opened the second half with his own 6-0 burst, scoring at the line on both ends of the run. Ree finally ended a Jackson State drought that stretched back into the first half, but Wagner quickly answered with another three, pushing Arkansas ahead 58-21. Brazile added two free throws before McMillian hit a jumper.

Seconds later, Acuff pulled up in transition and buried a three. On the next possession, McMillian threw an errant pass that Acuff intercepted, setting up a Wagner dunk. Arkansas led 65-23 at the media timeout. Mitchell added two more at the line before Ewin answered with a dunk to make it 67-25.

McMillian hit a pull up jumper, but Acuff immediately replied with a layup. Another Acuff steal sparked an 8-0 run in which Ewin scored six points and Sealy added a layup. After Richmond and Hoover traded baskets, Ewin stepped into a straightaway three for the first made three pointer of his career. Arkansas led 82-30 at the next media timeout.

Bench Takes Over as Arkansas Hits Triple Digits

Out of the break, Hoover knocked down a three, but Thomas matched him from deep. Pringle grabbed an offensive rebound and set up Sealy for a two hand finish. Thomas added two free throws, and Knox and Jones became tangled, resulting in double technicals.

After Knox missed the free throw, Butler hit a turnaround jumper for JSU. Wagner responded with a layup through contact and converted the free throw for a 92-35 lead. Knox added a dunk off a feed from Brazile. Williams hit a jumper, but Pringle answered with two free throws. Ree knocked down a three to push JSU to 40 points, but Ewin scored at the rim to make it 98-40 at the next media timeout.

Karuletwa checked in and Sealy quickly scored to move Arkansas to the 100 point mark. Hoover hit another three, but Ewin answered with a layup on a feed from Wagner. In transition, Sealy found Wagner for another layup and a chance at an extra point. Ewin threw down another dunk before Hoover followed with a layup. Hoover drew a foul, allowing Arkansas to empty the bench. Amere Brown and Elmir Dzafic entered to loud cheers.

Brown was fouled and went to the line. He missed his first two attempts, but a lane violation gave him a third shot, which he converted for his first career points. Dzafic split a pair on the next trip for his first points as a Razorback. Arkansas closed out a 115-61 win, improving to 5-1 on the season.

Malique Ewin led Arkansas with 21 points on eight of nine shooting, including his first career three pointer. DJ Wagner added 16 points on a perfect six of six from the field with seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Freshmen Darius Acuff Junior and Isaiah Sealy added 10 points each. Karter Knox finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 64 percent. Richmond delivered one of his most active and impactful all-around performances of the season, contributing through steady scoring, strong transition play, and consistent defensive pressure.

Thanksgiving in Chicago

Arkansas now heads on the road for a major test. The Razorbacks will face number 5 Duke in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, at 6 p.m. Duke enters the matchup at 6 to 0. Arkansas, at 5 to 1, will look to prove it belongs on the national stage.