FAYETTEVILLE – Trevon Brazile got off to a hot start, scoring 12 of the Razorback’s first 19 points, and freshman Darius Acuff Jr. recorded a double-double, while scoring nine of the Hogs’ last 15, to lead #25 Arkansas to an 89-80 victory over #6 Louisville Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena in the third annual ACC/SEC Challenge.

Arkansas improves to 3-0 in the ACC/SEC Challenge with a home win over then #7 Duke in 2023 and a road win at Miami (Fla.) last season.

The Razorbacks, which never trailed, were up 18 at the break, but Louisville got hot from 3-point range and trimmed its deficit to five on three occasions in the second half – the last coming 81-76 with 2:48 left. Brazile answered with an alley-oop dunk. Then, Acuff made a layup and Malique Ewin hit two free throws for a 6-0 run to put the Hogs up 11 and seal the win.

Overall, Arkansas had five players score in double figures and made 27-of-35 free throws, compared to 14-of-18 shooting at the line by Louisville. Arkansas also out-rebounded Louisville, 46-35, despite the Cardinals’ coming into the game ranking fifth in the NCAA in rebounds (46.0) and 15th in rebound margin (+12.7).

Another storyline in favor of the Razorbacks, Louisville entered the game second in the NCAA in 3-pointers made per game (13.1), but the Razorbacks kept the Cards to just 8-of-37 shooting from deep.

Brazile finished with 21 points (17 in the first half) and five rebounds and Acuff had 17 points (11 in the second half) and 10 assists. Meleek Thomas also scored 17 points. Malique Ewin added 12 points (6-of-8 FT) and nine rebounds – seven offensive – while Billy Richmond III scored 10 points.

Louisville was led by Mikel Brown Jr. with 22 points (16 in the second half). Ryan Conwell added 15 points, Sananda Fru scored 14 and Isaac McKinney scored 11.

Up next, Arkansas makes its annual trip to North Little Rock and will face Fresno State on Saturday (Dec. 6). Tipoff at Simmons Bank Arena is set for 3 pm.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 47 – LOU: 29

• The 18-point halftime lead was the fourth-largest by Arkansas in its 299 games versus an AP top 25 opponent and second-largest over an AP to p10 team. (HogStats)
• Arkansas lost the tip but forced a turnover and scored the first six points of the game. In fact, Arkansas held a lead the whole first half.
• Trevon Brazile scored 12 of the Razorbacks’ first 19 points.
• Louisville entered the game second the NCAA in 3-pointers made (13.1 per game) but was just 3-of-20 from deep in the first half. Arkansas was 5-of-11 thanks to Brazile going 3-of-4.
• Brazile was 6-of-7 overall from the floor and scored 17 points.
• Darius Acuff Jr. had six first-half assists. He entered the game with a season-high of six.
• Meleek Thomas was 8-of-9 at the line and scored 11 points. Overall, Arkansas was 14-of-18 at the line. Louisville was just 2-of-5.
• Louisville did not have a player score in double figures.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 42 – LOU: 51

• After Arkansas extended its lead to 20 (54-34 with 17:30 left), Louisville started chipping away at its deficit. Ultimately, Louisville used a 20-8 run to get to within six (62-56) with 10:51 left.
• Malique Ewin ended the run with a tip-in and Meleek Thomas added a second-chance jumper to give Arkansas a 10-point cushion.
• The Cardinals got to within five twice – 66-61 with 8:39 left and 68-63 with 8:04 left.
• Arkansas once pushed its lead to 10 once again (79-69) after an old-fashion, 3-point play by Acuff with 4:45 left.
• An Isaac McNeely 3-pointer with 2:48 allowed Louisville to trim its deficit to five a third time – 81-76 with 2:48 left – before Arkansas’s 6-0 run to seal the win.
• Louisville was 12-of-13 at the free throw line in the second half and shot 50% from the field despite going 5-of-17 (29.4%) from 3-point range.
• Arkansas was just 1-of-7 from deep in the second half.

NOTES:

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle.
• Trevon Brazile scored the game’s first points with two free throws at 19:33.
• Arkansas’s first subs were Meleek Thomas, Malique Ewin and Billy Richmond III.
• With the win tonight, Arkansas took a one-game advantage (5-4) in the nine-game, all-time series.
• Coach Calipari is now 20-8 all-time versus Louisville.
• Darius Acuff Jr. is the ONLY freshman since 1991-92 to get 10 assists versus an AP top 25 team. Overall, he is just the Razorback overall to have 10 assists versus an AP top 25 team. The other two were Courtney Fortson (10 pts and 10 assists) versus #4 Oklahoma (12/30/08) and Kareem Reid (10 pts and 10 assists) versus #8 Memphis (1/18/96). (HogStats)
• Arkansas improves to 7-4 all-time when ranked #25 in the AP poll. The last time the Hogs won when ranked #25 was a 69-57 decision over Ole Miss (1/21/23) in Bud Walton Arena.
• Arkansas improves to 8-12 all-time when playing AP #6. The last time Arkansas defeated a team ranked #6 was Kentucky, 75-73, on 2/26/22) in Bud Walton Arena.
• Coach Cal improves to 5-5 all-time when his teams are ranked #25 and improves to 6-6 all-time when
• Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas are the only Razorbacks to score in double figures in all eight games and they are the only Hogs to make a 3-pointer in all eight games.
• There are only four Razorback freshmen to score 10+ points in each of their first 8+ games in the freshman eligible era which began in 1972-73. The leaders are 13 – Isaiah Joe 2018-19; 10 – Moses Moody 2020-21; 8 – Darius Acuff Jr. 2025-26 and 8 – Meleek Thomas 2025-26. (HogStats)
• Coach Calipari picked up win #883 making him 17 shy of 900 for his career.

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