Arkansas Earns Key SEC Victory Over Auburn 88-75 with Dominant Second Half

No.21 Arkansas delivered a decisive SEC statement Saturday night, defeating Auburn 88-75 behind a career performance from freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr at Bud Walton Arena.

Acuff tied his career high with 31 points, shooting 10 of 15 from the field and 7 of 10 from three point range in a breakout performance that continues his surge through conference play. Billy Richmond III added a career high 25 points on 12 of 15 shooting as Arkansas improved to 19-6 overall and 9-3 in the SEC.

The breaking update in Fayetteville centered on Arkansas’ explosive second half. After leading by six at halftime, the Razorbacks opened the final 20 minutes on a 19-4 run. Acuff hit three consecutive three pointers during that stretch, shifting momentum permanently. Arkansas finished the game shooting 57 percent from the field, its most efficient offensive output in SEC play this season.

Acuff has now scored at least 20 points in six straight games, with Arkansas posting a 5-1 record during that span. The freshman has scored in double figures in every game this season and reached a significant milestone Saturday, becoming just the second player in program history to record at least 500 points and 150 assists in a single season. Former Arkansas standout Lee Mayberry accomplished the feat three times from 1990 through 1992.

Auburn, now 14-11 and 5-7 in conference play, played without leading scorer Keyshawn Hall, who averages 20.7 points per game. Coach Steven Pearl confirmed Hall was unavailable for disciplinary reasons. His absence had a measurable impact on the Tigers’ offensive balance.

Tahaad Pettiford scored 29 points on 11 of 18 shooting and KeShawn Murphy added 22 on 9 of 16 from the field. Outside of those two contributors, Auburn shot just 22 percent, highlighting the roster limitations without Hall in the lineup. The Tigers cut the deficit to eight points with 8:25 remaining, but Richmond responded with five straight points before Acuff connected on another three pointer to restore a double digit advantage.

From a standings perspective, the latest timeline strengthens Arkansas’ position in the SEC title race and bolsters its NCAA Tournament résumé. The Razorbacks have now won key games against ranked competition and continue trending upward offensively. Auburn faces questions about roster stability and next steps regarding Hall’s status as conference play intensifies.

What this means moving forward is clear. Arkansas enters a critical road matchup at Alabama on Wednesday with momentum and one of the conference’s most productive backcourts. Auburn travels to Mississippi State seeking to stabilize its season outlook while awaiting further clarity on Hall’s availability.

As March approaches, Arkansas’ offensive efficiency and Acuff’s sustained production position the Razorbacks as a rising contender in the SEC landscape.