No. 18 Arkansas Defeats No. 19 Tennessee 86-75 in SEC Opener

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, No. 18 Arkansas defeated No. 19 Tennessee 86-75 in the season-opening game for both teams in the Southeastern Conference. Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. led the Razorbacks with a career-high 29 points, including a crucial three-pointer that helped seal the victory.

The game remained competitive through much of the afternoon at Bud Walton Arena, with Tennessee matching Arkansas early by trading baskets and maintaining efficiency on offense. Both teams entered the matchup with identical 10-3 records, fresh off strong nonconference performances. Arkansas had knocked off No. 15 Texas Tech among its wins, while Tennessee boasted victories over No. 8 Houston and No. 16 Louisville, along with a 51-point rout of South Carolina State.

The turning point came midway through the second half. Trailing by five points, Arkansas embarked on an 18-5 run spanning 6 minutes and 37 seconds, transforming the deficit into an eight-point advantage with 5:40 remaining. During that stretch, Tennessee struggled offensively, shooting 2 for 10 from the field and missing eight consecutive shots before scoring. The Razorbacks capitalized with poise, generating 12 of...