Freshmen Duo Lead Razorbacks to Dominant SEC Road Win Over LSU

Acuff, Thomas combine for 48 points to lockdown possible NCAA Tournament at-large bid

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Arkansas needed to keep its foot on the gas on the road against LSU Tuesday night, and were able to do just that with a 91-62 victory on coach John Calipari's 67th birthday. The Razorbacks and Tigers went into the night on different ends of the spectrum when it comes to season vibes. Arkansas came in on the verge of locking up an NCAA Tournament bid, while LSU was looking to knock off a top-25 ranked team to secure an outside shot of an at-large bid. What LSU probably didn't see coming was the buzzsaw the Razorbacks would bring by making 64% of its second half field goal attempts, blocking 10 shots and forcing 10 turnovers.

Why it matters

This win helps solidify Arkansas' position for an NCAA Tournament bid, while LSU's hopes for an at-large bid took a major hit. The Razorbacks' freshmen duo of Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas combined for 48 points, showcasing their potential and the team's bright future.

The details

Arkansas asserted an edge defensively right out the gate, taking a 12-2 lead with 15:32 left in the first half and never looked back. The Razorbacks blitzed LSU straight out of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center as the combination of domination between Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas combined for 48 points on the night. The freshman duo made 19-of-35 attempts from the floor, including a 2-of-8 mark from three. Acuff led all scorers with 28 points, which is his fifth straight game with 20+ points.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Darius Acuff

A freshman guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks who led all scorers with 28 points, his fifth straight game with 20+ points.

Meleek Thomas

A freshman forward for the Arkansas Razorbacks who combined with Acuff for 48 points on the night.

Trevon Brazile

A senior forward for the Arkansas Razorbacks who finished the night with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks, and was labeled as the most effective player on the court with a +38 point differential.

Deden 'DJ' Thomas

The starting point guard for the LSU Tigers who was out with a foot injury for the ninth time in 11 games, limiting LSU's options.

Matt McMahon

The head coach of the LSU Tigers, whose squad was looking to knock off a top-25 ranked team to secure an outside shot of an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.

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What they’re saying

“OH MY GOSH TB ➡️➡️➡️ BRIII 🤯”

— Jacob Davis (Twitter (@jacobdaviscfb)

What’s next

Arkansas will have a Valentine's Day date against Auburn inside Bud Walton Arena on Saturday evening, giving the Razorbacks an opportunity to continue shaping its NCAA Tournament resume as the regular season winds down. LSU, under first-year coach Steven Pearl, will be looking to rebound from this loss and make a push for an at-large bid, with treacherous road games against Alabama, Florida, and Missouri still to come for Arkansas.

The takeaway

This dominant road win by the Arkansas Razorbacks, led by their impressive freshman duo of Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, solidifies their position for an NCAA Tournament bid and showcases the team's bright future. Meanwhile, LSU's hopes for an at-large bid took a major hit, highlighting the different trajectories of these two programs at this stage of the season.