NORMAN, Okla. (Interstat) — In a rugged, defensive-minded clash that defied its high-scoring expectations, the Arkansas Razorbacks erased a double-digit halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance to edge the Oklahoma Sooners 83-79 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Lloyd Noble Center.

The game, a late-January test for both Southeastern Conference-bound programs, was ultimately decided by Arkansas’s stifling defense after intermission and the poised playmaking of guard Darius Acuff Jr. The Razorbacks, who trailed 48-44 at halftime, limited Oklahoma to 31 points on 29% shooting in the second half, turning a game that once favored the Sooners’ perimeter attack into a gritty, interior battle.

Oklahoma built its first-half lead behind a torrent of three-pointers, connecting on 10 of 27 attempts for the game. Guard Nijel Pack spearheaded the early offense, finishing with a team-high 22 points, including several crucial long-range shots that helped the Sooners maintain an advantage for much of the opening period. The Sooners’ ball movement and offensive rebounding, where they held a 10-5 edge, generated extra possessions and allowed them to weather Arkansas’s efficient two-point shooting.

The Razorbacks, however, were undeterred by their own frigid start from beyond the arc, where they made just 2 of 17 attempts. They relentlessly attacked the paint, shooting 55.6% on two-point field goals. The offensive engine was Acuff, the sophomore from Detroit, who scored 21 points and dished out nine assists, orchestrating the comeback with a series of drives and timely passes.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minutes, with Arkansas clinging to a narrow lead. After Oklahoma’s Pack buried a three-pointer with 1:27 remaining to cut the deficit to 79-76, the Razorbacks needed a response. On the ensuing possession, Acuff drove into the lane, absorbed contact from Mohamed Wague, and finished a difficult layup while being fouled. He converted the free throw to complete the three-point play, pushing the lead back to six points with just 20 seconds left.

Oklahoma had a final chance to tie after an Arkansas turnover, but Trevon Brazile, who contributed six points, four assists and two blocks, swatted away Xzayvier Brown’s layup attempt with 12 seconds left. Arkansas’s Meleek Thomas secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and sank both free throws to seal the four-point victory.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Arkansas scored 83 points on 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 118.3, fueled by their 35-for-63 (55.6%) shooting inside the arc. Oklahoma, despite making 10 threes, managed only 79 points on 69 possessions (115.0 offensive rating), hampered by 10 turnovers against just two assists as a team. Arkansas also won the turnover battle, committing only six.

Beyond Acuff, Arkansas received balanced scoring. Thomas added 16 points, while Malique Ewin provided a significant spark off the bench with 12 points in 18 minutes. Karter Knox chipped in 11 points. For Oklahoma, Wague was a force inside with nine points, four assists and relentless work on the glass. Tae Davis added 14 points.

The victory improved Arkansas’s record to 16-5 as they continue a challenging stretch of SEC play. The loss dropped Oklahoma to 11-9 on the season. The game’s total points, 162, fell under the pregame over/under line of 167. Arkansas entered as a 2.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, a margin they narrowly covered with the late defensive stands and free throws.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Arkansas had a 56.3% probability to win pregame, a forecast that proved accurate after the Razorbacks demonstrated the resilience to overcome a poor shooting night from deep and lock down defensively when it mattered most. The win marked Arkansas’s second straight and seventh in their last nine games, providing momentum as they head back into conference action. Oklahoma, meanwhile, saw a two-game winning streak snapped and will look to regroup against another tough opponent in its upcoming schedule.