The Arkansas Razorbacks continued their impressive run in Southeastern Conference play, notching a 94-87 win over the Ole Miss Rebels on January 7, 2026, at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi. With this victory, the No. 15-ranked Razorbacks improved to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in SEC play, marking their first 2-0 conference start since the 2014-15 season. The win also extended Arkansas’ streak to three consecutive victories, solidifying their reputation as one of the hottest teams in college basketball right now.
Leading the charge for Arkansas was freshman sensation Darius Acuff Jr., who delivered a stellar performance with 26 points and nine assists. Acuff, already a four-time reigning SEC freshman of the week, was instrumental in both halves—particularly after the break, where he tallied 20 points and six assists. He made 11 of his 12 free throws, including several clutch shots down the stretch, and seemed unfazed by a brief scare after appearing to injure his leg or foot late in the contest. According to the Razorback Sports Network, Arkansas coach John Calipari praised his young guard’s poise, saying, “We played through Darius and he pulled us through. It was like a free-throw shooting contest….We made ours.”
Acuff’s performance capped off a remarkable week, following his career-high 29-point outing against Tennessee just days earlier. His ability to control the tempo and create opportunities for his teammates has drawn comparisons to some of Calipari’s legendary guards from his Kentucky days. When asked about his mindset, Acuff told the SEC Network, “Coach Cal gives me the confidence and I’ve just got to go out there and go do it…That was a great team win, I would say.” Still, Acuff remains humble about his early-season accolades: “We’ve still got a long season. I ain’t done nothing yet. I’m just trying to stay focused and keep getting wins with my team.”
Arkansas’ offensive depth was on full display, with five players scoring in double digits. Alongside Acuff, Trevon Brazile chipped in 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, making several timely three-pointers that helped the Razorbacks build and maintain their lead. Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond each added 13 points, while Karter Knox contributed 10 points and matched Brazile and Richmond for a team-high six rebounds. The Razorbacks shot an efficient 31-for-60 from the field and 10-for-24 from beyond the arc, reinforcing their status as the SEC’s best three-point shooting team at 39.1%.
Arkansas also dominated the boards, outrebounding Ole Miss 37-27 and collecting 14 second-chance points. Their ability to get to the free-throw line was another key factor—they made 22 of 30 attempts, including 19 of 26 in the second half, and outscored the Rebels 22-17 at the stripe. Calipari emphasized the importance of these details, noting, “The corner jumpers by Karter [Knox] and by [Brazile] were big.”
For Ole Miss, it was another tough night in conference play. The Rebels, now 8-7 overall and 0-2 in the SEC, have dropped two straight games after falling to Oklahoma on January 3. Despite trailing by as much as 16 points in the second half, Ole Miss mounted a spirited comeback, cutting the deficit to just four points with 1:24 remaining. Ilias Kamardine and Malik Dia led the Rebels with 16 points apiece, while Kansas transfer AJ Storr added 12 points, Eduardo Klafke had 11, and Patton Pinkins chipped in 10. Kamardine’s jumper with just over a minute left gave the home crowd hope, but the Rebels ultimately couldn’t close the gap.
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard made a bold move midway through the second half, substituting all five players on the court—including leading scorer Malik Dia, who did not return. The message seemed to spark the team, as the Rebels hit nine of their next eleven shots and made a late run. Beard reflected on the performance, saying, “I thought we played hard enough and well enough to have some success, but there’s just too many segments, too many back-to-back possessions, too many kind of self-inflicted mistakes.”
Arkansas took control early, responding to a brief Ole Miss lead with an 11-0 run that put the Razorbacks ahead for good. The Rebels were never able to retake the lead, though they kept things interesting with multiple surges. Each time Arkansas appeared to pull away, Ole Miss answered with quick buckets or timely three-pointers, keeping the outcome in doubt until the final moments. Ultimately, the Razorbacks’ depth, shooting, and composure sealed the deal.
Looking at the broader context, Arkansas’ victory snapped a three-game losing streak to Ole Miss, including an 83-80 defeat in last year’s SEC Tournament. The Razorbacks now hold a 53-36 all-time edge over the Rebels, though Ole Miss still has a 21-10 advantage in Oxford. This win could prove pivotal as Arkansas seeks to establish itself as a contender in the SEC, especially with a challenging road schedule ahead.
The betting lines leading up to the game reflected confidence in Arkansas’ form. The Razorbacks were favored by 4.5 points according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and expert predictions pointed to their high-octane offense—averaging 90.2 points per game, 19th in the nation—as a decisive factor. Once again, Arkansas delivered on that promise, pushing the pace and forcing Ole Miss to match their tempo. The Rebels, who have struggled defensively in recent outings, simply couldn’t keep up with the Razorbacks’ relentless attack.
For Ole Miss, the loss highlights ongoing challenges on both ends of the court. The Rebels have now allowed 80-plus points in three of their last four games and have struggled to generate consistent offense, scoring under 80 in nine of their past ten contests. With their next matchup set for January 10 against Missouri, Ole Miss will need to regroup quickly if they hope to snap their SEC skid.
Meanwhile, Arkansas looks ahead to a Saturday showdown at Auburn, aiming to start SEC play 3-0 for the first time since the 1997-98 season. With Acuff continuing to shine and the team firing on all cylinders, the Razorbacks are poised to make some serious noise in the conference. As Coach Calipari put it, “You’re talking two teams that were not afraid and just finished the game.” For Arkansas, that fearless approach is paying off in a big way.
