TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr., wearing a protective boot, snapped when coach John Calipari asked him earlier this week if he would miss Wednesday night’s game against Alabama.
“He said, ‘Are you crazy?'” Calipari recalled.
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Akaf not only plays ball, he dazzles with it. The No. 20 Razorbacks were down to seven players in their rotation when they faced off against the No. 25 Crimson Tide, and the freshman guard nearly suffered a 117-115 defeat in double overtime.
Acuff scored 49 points — the second-highest total in a single game in college basketball this season — and led Arkansas most of the night. He made 16 of 27 shots, including 6 of 10 three-pointers, and contributed 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
He played all 50 minutes for Calipari’s injury-plagued team and took on a larger role after four teammates were sent off in overtime. He missed jumpers at the end of every frame.
“He’s been wearing boots for two days and he’s still doing this,” Calipari quipped.
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Acuff is the top scorer by a rookie against an AP Top 25 team, the top scorer by a rookie at Arkansas and the top scorer by a Razorback player in Southeastern Conference play. He’s just two points shy of Rotnei Clarke’s 51-point record set against Alcorn State in 2009.
“We lost the lead, but we’re still fighting,” Acav said. “(My performance) means nothing. We lost. No matter how much I had, we lost. Hopefully I can undo the damage.”
“It was a good game, man. We had a couple guys down. No excuses, but we’re proud of the way we fought.”
Arkansas twice led by 14 points but was unable to beat Alabama, losing for the first time in four games. It puts a damper on an otherwise memorable performance.
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Acuff had the ball in his hands, ready to take the final shot. His floater in the lane bounced off the backboard and Alabama grabbed the rebound for its fifth straight win. Akav hit a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Arkansas scored 58 points in the second half and overtime, 35 of which he scored or assisted on.
It was the culmination of an impressive journey. It was his third straight game with at least 25 points, his seventh straight game with at least 20 points, and his third game with 30 points in that span. Arkansas is 5-2 in that span.
Despite the loss, Arkansas (19-7, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) remains in a three-way tie for second place in the conference. The Alabama Razorbacks and Tennessee are both two games behind defending national champion No. 12 Florida State.
But with Acuff playing well, the Razorbacks look to be a contender come March.
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“His body language, his ability to make everyone better, his will to win,” Calipari said. “I’ve coached some really good backs over the years and he’s been around them. He’s one of a kind and I think everyone saw that today.”
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