In another highly anticipated SEC clash, the Auburn Tigers delivered a statement performance, stunning No. 15 Arkansas with a convincing 95–73 blowout. The Razorbacks, who entered the matchup ranked and riding momentum, fell to 12–4 on the season, while Auburn continued its resurgence after a slow start, improving to 10–6.
Auburn Dominated the Razorbacks from the Opening Tip
From the first whistle, Auburn seized control and never let go. The Tigers set the tone early with physicality, energy, and efficiency on both ends of the floor, building a lead that Arkansas was never able to seriously threaten. Auburn dominated nearly every statistical category, including rebounding, assists, steals, field-goal percentage, and three-point shooting.
The story of the night was Auburn’s dominance in the paint. The Tigers owned the glass, outrebounding Arkansas 37–28, and turned those extra possessions into points at will. Auburn outscored the Razorbacks 48–28 in points in the paint, consistently attacking inside and punishing Arkansas for missed rotations and second-chance opportunities.
Leading the charge was Keyshawn Hall, who put together a sensational performance. Hall poured in 32 points to go along with two rebounds and five assists, shooting an ultra-efficient 11-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Arkansas had no answer for him, as he scored at all three levels and kept the Razorbacks on their heels all night.
Keshawn Murphy added a strong supporting performance for Auburn, recording a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Tigers control the interior and maintain their physical edge.
Arkansas’ Offense Never Found Its Rhythm
For Arkansas, it was a night filled with frustration. The Razorbacks struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting 43% from the field and 38% from three-point range. While those numbers aren’t disastrous on their own, they weren’t nearly enough to keep pace with Auburn’s red-hot shooting. The Tigers finished the game shooting an impressive 57% from the field and 45% from deep, efficiency that proved overwhelming when paired with their interior dominance.
Star freshman guard Darius Acuff had an uncharacteristically uneven night. Although he still led Arkansas with 19 points, Acuff shot 7-of-16 from the floor and just 2-of-6 from three. Perhaps most notable was his lack of playmaking, as he finished with only one assist, well below his usual output of 6.2 per game. Auburn’s defensive pressure clearly disrupted his ability to get teammates involved.
One bright spot for the Razorbacks was Meleek Thomas, who provided a spark off the bench. Thomas scored 17 points and was Arkansas’ most efficient scorer, going 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Veteran forward Trevon Brazile had a quiet night on the glass, pulling down just five rebounds. When Brazile isn’t able to establish a physical presence inside and set the tone, Arkansas often struggles, and that trend was evident in this matchup. Despite a double-double effort from Malique Ewin, Arkansas simply couldn’t match Auburn’s physicality and consistency inside.
In the end, Auburn’s formula was clear: dominate the paint, control the boards, and shoot with confidence. That combination proved too much for Arkansas, as the Tigers pulled away early and never looked back.
For the Razorbacks, the loss drops them to 2–1 in SEC play, but it’s far from season-defining. Head coach John Calipari will look to make adjustments and have his team better prepared as the early conference slate continues. With plenty of opportunities still ahead, Arkansas will aim to respond and prove they belong among the SEC’s elite.