Darius Acuff’s 49 Carries Arkansas in Near 2OT Classic at Alabama
Darius Acuff delivered a landmark scoring night, pouring in 49 points and nearly sending Arkansas into double overtime in the Feb. 18 matchup at Alabama. The performance came in a high-stakes SEC meeting that saw Arkansas enter the game as a ranked team on the road.
Darius Acuff fuels late surge
Acuff’s 49-point outburst stood as the defining development of the game, turning a tightly contested contest into a late rally that ultimately fell just short of forcing a second overtime. The night in Tuscaloosa unfolded against the backdrop of a regular-season slate in which this meeting marked the ninth time a ranked Arkansas team faced a ranked opponent this year. Tipoff for the game was scheduled for 7: 00 pm ET at Coleman Coliseum.
The matchup paired #20/17 Arkansas (19-6, 9-3 SEC) with 25/RV Alabama (18-7, 8-4 SEC). Both teams arrived with offensive pedigree—Arkansas ranked 11th nationally in scoring while Alabama ranked third—and both also ranked among the NCAA leaders in blocked shots, with Arkansas 15th and Alabama ninth.
Razorbacks regroup and return home with momentum
Despite the narrow finish in Tuscaloosa, the Razorbacks will quickly turn their attention to a pair of home dates at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas is scheduled to host Missouri on Feb. 21 at 4: 00 pm ET and then welcome Texas A& M on Feb. 25 at 9: 00 pm ET. The quick turnaround gives Arkansas a chance to capitalize on the competitive showing and refine late-game execution ahead of those key conference clashes.
Acuff’s outing against a top-ranked offensive unit underscored both his scoring capacity and Arkansas’ willingness to lean on a hot hand in late-game situations. The Razorbacks’ near-miss in a high-profile road environment will be examined closely as they prepare for the pair of home contests that follow.
The Feb. 18 meeting at Coleman Coliseum also highlighted the broader SEC landscape: two teams with strong offensive numbers and interior defense clashing in a game that reinforced the league’s depth and nightly unpredictability. With the regular season pressing forward, Arkansas’ showing—and Acuff’s 49-point night—will remain a focal point for how the Razorbacks approach the remaining slate.
Coaching staffs and fans alike will watch whether the momentum from that performance carries into the upcoming home games, and whether Arkansas can convert a near 2OT escape into tangible results in the weeks ahead.
