Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. has been named the SEC Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week after averaging 17.5 points, nine assists and five rebounds in back-to-back wins over No. 6 Louisville and Fresno State, the conference announced Monday.
Acuff delivered his first collegiate double-double in the Razorbacks’ upset of Louisville, finishing with 17 points, a career-high 10 assists and five rebounds. Eleven of those points came after halftime, including nine of Arkansas’ final 15 as the Hogs protected a shrinking lead late. He assisted six first-half baskets as Arkansas built a 47-29 advantage at the break.
The freshman’s play also etched his name into program history, Acuff is the only Razorback freshman since 1992-93 to record 10 assists against an AP Top-25 opponent and just the third Arkansas player at any class level to do so.
He followed the performance with 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds against Fresno State, turning the ball over only once. Acuff once again fueled a second-half surge, scoring 11 points with five assists as Arkansas opened the half on a 22-6 run. Eight of his second-half points came during that stretch, where he shot 3-for-3 from the field and knocked down both attempts from deep.
Acuff and No. 17 Arkansas return to the floor Saturday facing No. 16 Texas Tech in the Revocruit Rematch at Dallas’ American Airlines Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI