No. 25 Alabama beats No. 20 Arkansas in 2OT thriller

Crimson Tide survive Darius Acuff's career night to win 117-115

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:07pm

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In a high-scoring double-overtime battle, the No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks 117-115. The game featured a career performance from Arkansas' Darius Acuff, who scored a game-high 45 points, but Alabama's Houston Mallette hit a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of the second overtime to secure the victory for the Crimson Tide.

Why it matters

This was a crucial SEC matchup between two ranked teams fighting for position in the conference standings. The win keeps Alabama in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth, while the loss is a tough blow for Arkansas' postseason aspirations.

The details

The game was a back-and-forth affair that went to double overtime. Arkansas' Darius Acuff erupted for 45 points, including several key baskets down the stretch to force the extra periods. However, Alabama's Houston Mallette hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 51 seconds left in the second OT to lift the Crimson Tide to the victory.

  • The game was played on February 19, 2026.
  • Mallette's game-winning 3-pointer came with 51 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

The players

Darius Acuff

A standout junior guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks who scored a career-high 45 points in the loss.

Houston Mallette

A sophomore guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide who hit the clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of the second overtime to secure the victory for Alabama.

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What they’re saying

“Darius really put the team on his back tonight, but we were able to make the plays we needed to down the stretch to get the win.”

— Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach

What’s next

Alabama will look to build on this big win as they continue SEC play, while Arkansas will try to rebound from the tough loss.

The takeaway

This thriller between two ranked SEC foes lived up to the hype, with Alabama narrowly escaping with a hard-fought double-overtime victory behind a clutch shot from Houston Mallette.