No. 14 Arkansas ran into a costly combination of missed free throws and elite defense Saturday evening, falling 94–85 to No. 8 Houston in the Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center.
Despite entering the matchup ranked among the NCAA’s top 30 teams in free-throw percentage, the Razorbacks struggled mightily at the line, finishing just 21-of-35. Those missed opportunities loomed large against a Houston team that converted 19-of-25 free throws and controlled much of the game’s tempo. Missed opportunities for additional points at the line will always come back to haunt a team no matter how good they are. That proved to be the case in this game against the Cougars.
Houston’s Defense and Tempo Set the Tone
The Cougars seized control early, building a 21-point lead midway through the first half behind suffocating defense and a 21–2 run fueled by Arkansas turnovers. Houston forced 12 turnovers in the game, many of them coming early, and turned those mistakes into 19 points.
Houston also dictated the pace throughout the night, limiting Arkansas to just seven fast-break points. By slowing the game and executing in the half court, the Cougars prevented the Razorbacks from generating the transition offense that has fueled them in recent games.
Senior guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp played a key role in managing the tempo, creating easy scoring opportunities and keeping Arkansas from finding any offensive rhythm early. Houston controlling the game flow and pace was one of the key X-factors that led this team to the impressive victory.
Razorbacks Show Resilience After Early Struggles
Arkansas responded after falling behind by as many as 21 points in the first half. The Razorbacks held Houston scoreless for 5:16 late in the opening period and closed the half on a 22–9 run, trimming the deficit to eight at the break.
Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. led the charge, finishing with a game-high 27 points to go along with seven assists and five rebounds. Senior forward Malique Ewin added 20 points and nine rebounds, drawing 11 fouls, though he went just 10-of-17 at the free-throw line. Although Ewin had the costly missed free throws, he was a very important in the Razorbacks staying close in this one with Brazile in early foul trouble.
Mistakes for Arkansas Prove Costly
The difference in the game ultimately came down to free throws and perimeter shooting. Houston finished 19-of-25 at the foul line, while Arkansas left 14 points on the board by going 21-of-35. The Cougars also held an edge from beyond the arc, making 11 three-pointers to Arkansas’ eight.
Arkansas also faced early foul trouble, as senior Trevon Brazile picked up two fouls in the first seven minutes and did not return for the remainder of the first half. Brazile had led the Razorbacks in scoring in three of the previous four games, and his absence limited Arkansas’ frontcourt options. Brazile's prescence was severely missed even with Ewin stepping in playing well.
Head coach John Calipari said his team’s early turnovers and missed free throws proved difficult to overcome, despite improved execution later in the game.
"“The biggest thing is, we talked about easy plays,” Calipari said. “Don’t try to make the hardest plays, that gets them going. In that first 10 minutes we had more turnovers than the average, and for the last 30 minutes we only had three. But by that time, we were down 18 and we were missing free throws.”"John Calipari
Calipari added that while he was frustrated with the Razorbacks’ defensive performance, he believed the offense competed well against one of the nation’s top defensive teams. Houston was led by Emanuel Sharp’s 22 points and a strong all-around effort from freshman Kingston Flemings, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Houston proved why it is one of the best teams in the country, showcasing its versatility with multiple offensive threats, controlling the game’s pace, and using elite defense to stifle even one of the nation’s most prolific offenses in Arkansas. Kelvin Sampson got the better of John Calipari in this matchup, but both teams came away with a valuable litmus test to identify areas for improvement moving forward.