No. 20 Arkansas will take the floor against Missouri on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark., with the new favorite for Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Darius Acuff Jr.
The freshman guard posted a record-breaking 49-point performance in the Razorbacks’ 117-115 double-overtime loss at No. 25 Alabama on Wednesday.
Acuff set the school record for points in a game by a freshman and made six 3-pointers, one short of a season high. He had five assists, five rebounds and only one turnover while playing the entire 50 minutes. He also passed Scotty Thurman for the most points in a season by an Arkansas freshman — a record that had belonged to Thurman since the 1992-93 season.
Never mind all that, said Acuff, who has 579 points this season and is averaging 22.3 points and 6.2 assists per game.
“It don’t mean nothing,” he said of his 49-point showing. “However many I had, we lost.”
Arkansas (19-7, 9-4 SEC) will attempt to rebound against the Tigers (18-8, 8-5) as the infighting continues for one of the coveted double byes in the conference tournament.
No. 12-ranked Florida (20-6, 11-2) has a two-game lead over Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, all 9-4 in the league. Missouri is among five teams that are 8-5. The top four teams will receive a double bye.
The Tigers enter Saturday’s game after an 81-80 home victory Wednesday over No. 19 Vanderbilt. Missouri lost almost all of a 21-point second-half lead in the final nine minutes.
“We did not break, and that’s the most important part,” Tigers coach Dennis Gates said. “For Selection Sunday (next month), our job is to get these types of wins. For us to be able to get this on our resume is very important.”
Arkansas lost a 14-point lead to the Crimson Tide but recovered to force overtime on Acuff’s 3-pointer late in regulation.
Acuff’s 8-foot floater that would have tied the game in the final seconds of double overtime bounced off the rim, and teammate Malique Ewin could not control the rebound.
“I work on that every day,” Acuff said. “Just missed it.”
Acuff was in a walking boot to protect a sore left ankle for two days before the game, Arkansas coach John Calipari said, the apparent result of an incident in an 88-75 victory over Auburn last Saturday.
Acuff went to the floor holding his left ankle down after scrambling for a loose ball with 13:44 remaining, but the injury did not appear serious when he returned two minutes later and played the rest of the game.
“I’m just proud of the way we fought,” Acuff said. “We’re going to bounce back.”
Four Razorbacks fouled out against Alabama, including starters Meleek Thomas (24 points) and Billy Richmond III (20). Karter Knox (knee) and Isaiah Sealy (hip) were out, and they played the last 1:23 with reserves Elmir Dzafic and Jaden Karuletwa on the court.
“I don’t want to talk about the fouls and all that, because I don’t want to get in trouble,” Calipari said.
Missouri knows about being short-handed. Guard Jayden Stone, who had a team-high 19 points against Vanderbilt, missed eight games because of a November wrist injury. Forward Trent Pierce (16 against Vanderbilt) missed the non-conference season with a lower-body injury.
“Our season changes because they are healthy,” Gates said. “That’s the headline. We’re a different team when these guys and their IQ is on the court.”
Stone is averaging 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and Pierce is at 10.2 ppg. Forward Mark Mitchell is averaging team highs in points (16.9) and rebounds (5.5).
–Field Level Media
