Razorbacks Rout LSU 91-62, Freshmen Lead the Charge
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Arkansas Razorbacks delivered a dominant performance Tuesday night, defeating the LSU Tigers 91-62 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The victory, secured on head coach John Calipari’s 67th birthday, marked the Razorbacks’ third consecutive road win and completed a season sweep of LSU.
Arkansas (18-6, 8-3 SEC) never trailed in the game, establishing a 12-2 lead early in the first half and maintaining control throughout. The Razorbacks shot 64% from the field in the second half, while also blocking 10 shots and forcing 10 turnovers, showcasing a comprehensive display of skill and defensive intensity.
The Razorbacks’ success was largely fueled by the dynamic duo of freshmen Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, who combined for 48 points on the night. Acuff led all scorers with 28 points, marking his fifth consecutive game with 20 or more points. Thomas contributed significantly to the offensive output, and the pair connected on 19 of their 35 field goal attempts.
Acuff’s performance continues a remarkable freshman campaign. He is now just one point shy of 500 career points as a Razorback, ranking third all-time among Razorback freshmen according to HogStats.com.
LSU (14-9, 2-10) struggled to find its footing, shooting just 30.9% from the field. The Tigers were further hampered by the absence of starting point guard Deden “DJ” Thomas, who missed his ninth game in the last 11 due to a foot injury. His absence reportedly limited LSU’s offensive options.
Arkansas extended its all-time series record against LSU to 46-37, including a 2-0 mark this season. The Razorbacks previously defeated the Tigers 85-81 on January 24 at Bud Walton Arena in a come-from-behind victory.
The Razorbacks’ decisive win comes at a crucial juncture in the season, bolstering their NCAA Tournament aspirations. While LSU coach Matt McMahon hoped a victory over a top-25 opponent could provide a path to an at-large bid, the Tigers now face an uphill battle.
Arkansas’s victory was so complete that, outside of a couple of missed alley-oop dunks, everything seemed to fall into place for the Razorbacks. Even difficult shots off the glass found their mark, contributing to another convincing road victory in SEC play.
