Arkansas Tops Vanderbilt to Win SEC Tournament Title

Darius Acuff Jr. leads Razorbacks to first conference tournament championship since 2000

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:34pm

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The No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the No. 22 Vanderbilt Commodores 86-75 to win the 2026 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship. Darius Acuff Jr. scored 30 points and had 11 assists to lead Arkansas to its first SEC Tournament title and automatic NCAA Tournament berth since 2000.

Why it matters

This victory secures Arkansas' spot in the upcoming NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, one of the most prestigious postseason events in college sports. The Razorbacks' championship win over a ranked Vanderbilt team also demonstrates the program's continued strength and competitiveness in the highly competitive SEC conference.

The details

Arkansas was led by junior guard Darius Acuff Jr., who poured in 30 points and dished out 11 assists in the championship game victory over Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks built a double-digit lead in the second half and were able to hold off a late Commodores comeback attempt to claim the SEC Tournament title.

  • The SEC Tournament championship game was played on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Arkansas' last SEC Tournament title came in 2000.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

A junior guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks who led the team to the SEC Tournament championship with 30 points and 11 assists.

Arkansas Razorbacks

The men's basketball team from the University of Arkansas that won the 2026 SEC Tournament title, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Vanderbilt Commodores

The men's basketball team from Vanderbilt University that lost to Arkansas in the 2026 SEC Tournament championship game.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge accomplishment for our program and these players. They've worked so hard all season and deserve this championship.”

— Eric Musselman, Head Coach, Arkansas Razorbacks (washingtonpost.com)

What’s next

Arkansas will now turn its attention to the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where the Razorbacks will look to make a deep run and compete for a national championship.

The takeaway

Arkansas' SEC Tournament title victory is a significant milestone for the program, as it marks their first conference tournament championship in over 25 years. The Razorbacks' success this season has positioned them as a team to watch in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.