Acuff Jr. scores 37 as No. 17 Arkansas holds off Oklahoma to reach SEC Tournament semis

Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) celebrates a three-point basket against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Darius Acuff Jr. scored 37 points and No. 17 Arkansas held off Oklahoma 82-79 on Friday night to reach the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals.

The third-seeded Razorbacks (24-8) won their third straight overall and will play No. 15 seed Mississippi in the semifinals after the Rebels upset No. 15 Alabama 80-79 earlier Friday night.

Trevon Brazile added 12 points for Arkansas. Meleek Thomas, who came in averaging 15.4 points, was 2-of-10 shooting and finished with eight points.

The Razorbacks were the last team to play at this tournament, while this was Oklahoma’s third game in as many nights. The game featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties, and Acuff, the SEC’s scoring leader and league’s player and freshman of the year, had 21 in the first half to keep Arkansas within 39-37 at halftime.

Neither team led by more than four much of the second half, and Dayton Forsythe’s layup tied it for the last time at 67 with 5:38 left. Malique Ewin’s dunk put Arkansas ahead to stay with 5:17 left. The Razorbacks scored nine of the next 11, and Acuff’s 3 with 2:27 remaining gave them their biggest lead at 76-69.

The Sooners had a final chance after Acuff missed a second free throw with 10 seconds left. Nijel Pack’s 3 missed and Arkansas got the ball with 0.6 seconds remaining.

No. 11 seed Oklahoma (19-15) needed an upset in this game to strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume after losing nine straight early in league play. The Sooners’ six-game winning streak was snapped.

Pack led the Sooners with 19 points, Derrion Reid and Tae Davis each had 17 and Mohamed Wague had 13.

Up next

Oklahoma now must wait and hope winning eight of 10 before this loss was enough for a 35th all-time NCAA berth.

Arkansas reached its 17th semifinal in this tournament.

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