Trevon Brazile scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to record his 11th career double-double, while freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 43 points to lead No. 14/15 Arkansas past Southern 109-77 Monday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks’ 109 points tied the most under head coach John Calipari, marked the most in a season opener since 142 points in the 2020-21 opener against Mississippi Valley State, and ranks fifth all-time in program history for a season-opening game.
Brazile went 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in a career-best performance, helping Arkansas finish 25-of-29 from the stripe (94.4%), tying as the eighth-best team free-throw percentage in school history. Acuff scored 22 points, including 20 in the first half, and added four assists, while Thomas contributed 21 points, seven assists, and three steals. Freshman Isaiah Sealy added 12 points on a perfect 6-of-6 at the line.
Acuff and Thomas posted the second- and third-most points by a Razorback freshman in a debut since freshmen became permanently eligible in 1972-73. Thomas also became the first Arkansas player in a debut to tally at least 18 points, six assists, and three steals.
Michael Jacobs led Southern with 22 points, and Fazi Oshodi added 15.
Arkansas travels to face No. 22/21 Michigan State Saturday at the Breslin Center, with tipoff at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) on FOX.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI