Arkansas Dominates Vanderbilt With High-Flying Home Victory

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Bud Walton Arena crowd was buzzing Tuesday night, and for good reason: the No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks delivered a resounding 93-68 win over the No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores, sending a message to the rest of the SEC. The victory not only preserved Arkansas’ perfect home record at 11-0 but also marked their most dominant win over a ranked opponent in nearly two decades.

From the opening tip, Arkansas looked like a team on a mission. The Razorbacks raced out to a 20-point lead in the game’s first 13 minutes, fueled by an electric start from sophomore Karter Knox and freshman sensation Darius Acuff, Jr. The Commodores, who had entered the contest averaging over 91 points per game and boasting a 16-3 record, were left scrambling as Arkansas’ defense stifled their shooters and their offense attacked the paint relentlessly.

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington didn’t mince words after the game. “I thought Arkansas was phenomenal,” Byington said. “I thought they were shot out of a cannon tonight. Their speed, their athleticism, they had us on our heels right away with their aggressiveness. On the offensive and defensive end, they made plays.”

By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Arkansas held a 46-35 lead. While Vanderbilt found a spark late in the first half—thanks largely to Tyler Nickel’s hot hand from deep—the Razorbacks’ early blitz had already set the tone. Nickel was a lone bright spot for the Commodores, pouring in 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range—all in the first half. But Vanderbilt’s offense sputtered after the break, and Nickel was held scoreless in the final 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, Arkansas continued to turn up the heat. Darius Acuff, Jr., who entered the game leading the SEC with 6.3 assists per contest, orchestrated the Razorbacks’ offense masterfully. He finished tied for a game-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and dished out all five of his assists in the second half, each one leading to a thunderous dunk. “He’s obviously an exceptional player and extremely fast,” Byington noted. “He causes a lot of tension for the defense. You’re always constantly thinking he’s going to blow by you, and a lot of times he is.”

The Razorbacks’ aerial assault was relentless. They outscored Vanderbilt 50-22 in the paint and tallied 13 dunks—11 of which came after halftime. Malique Ewin led the way with four slams, while Nick Pringle, Trevon Brazile, and Knox each added multiple dunks. Karter Knox, who set the tone early with a corner three that forced a Vanderbilt timeout, finished with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, and two assists. His performance was his best since dropping 20 points against Texas Tech in December.

Coach John Calipari, in his first season at the helm for Arkansas, credited a tough Monday practice for the team’s sharpness. “I learned this from Larry Brown. You never leave the gym where you’re…pissed off by yourself,” Calipari said. “You make sure everyone in the building is, including assistants, the trainers, the managers, every player. When you leave, you don’t ever leave by yourself that way. You make sure, and everybody yesterday left that way. I just said I’m not dealing with it. You’re not giving me that kind of effort. No, not happening.”

The numbers told the story of Arkansas’ dominance: the Razorbacks shot a blistering 58% from the field (37-of-64), 41% from three (9-of-22), and 83% at the free-throw line. Their 25 assists against just seven turnovers underscored a team-first mentality and crisp ball movement. “Our whole idea was, sometimes you pass the ball just to pass,” Calipari explained. “When that ball moves and we drive and it’s kicked, we’re really good.”

For Vanderbilt, the loss marked their third straight defeat, dropping them to 16-3 overall and 3-3 in SEC play. The Commodores’ offense, which had been among the nation’s best, managed just 38% shooting from the field and 32% from beyond the arc. Tyler Tanner (11 points) and Devin McGlockton (10 points) joined Nickel in double figures, but the team’s struggles on the glass and in the paint proved insurmountable.

Vanderbilt’s woes were compounded by recent trends. They had been outrebounded by 14 or more in each of their last two games, and Tuesday was no different. The Commodores’ inability to control the boards and limit second-chance opportunities haunted them again, as Arkansas repeatedly capitalized on offensive rebounds and defensive stops to ignite fast breaks and highlight-reel finishes.

Despite the lopsided final score, the night wasn’t without its moments for the Commodores. Nickel’s first-half shooting spree briefly brought Vanderbilt within striking distance, and a stretch of zone defense helped slow Arkansas’ attack late in the opening period. But each time Vanderbilt threatened a comeback, Arkansas responded with a run of its own—often punctuated by an emphatic dunk or a timely three-pointer.

The victory was significant for Arkansas in more ways than one. Not only did it keep them within a game of first-place Florida in the SEC standings, but it also marked their best six-game start to conference play since 2014-15. The Razorbacks’ 25-point margin was their largest against a ranked opponent since 2007, and had they not emptied the bench in the closing minutes, the margin could have been even greater.

“I said to the staff, ‘Look at this crowd,’” Calipari reflected during his postgame radio interview. “Some fans have to drive three hours, two-and-a-half hours. I respect that, and I just want to tell you that you guys make a difference with this team. You add to their energy, their desire, their fight.”

With the win, Arkansas improved to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in SEC play. The Razorbacks will look to keep their home streak alive when they host LSU on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network. The Tigers, currently tied at the bottom of the conference standings, come in hoping to play spoiler. For Vanderbilt, the road doesn’t get any easier—they head to Mississippi State for a 5 p.m. tipoff on January 24, hoping to snap their skid and regain early-season momentum.

On a night when Bud Walton Arena felt more like a fortress than ever, Arkansas reminded everyone why they’re one of the SEC’s most dangerous teams—especially at home. If the Razorbacks can bottle this energy and consistency, the rest of the conference better watch out.