Basketball in the SEC is a meat grinder. Honestly, if you didn't catch the game at Stegeman Coliseum, you missed a bizarre masterclass in resilience followed by a total system failure. The razorback game score today ended in a 90-76 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, but those numbers on the screen don't even begin to describe the emotional whiplash of the afternoon.
It was ugly early.
Georgia opened the game on a 11-0 run that made it look like the Hogs had forgotten how to tie their shoes, let alone run an offense. By the time the second half rolled around, Arkansas was staring at a 19-point deficit. You've seen this movie before. Usually, this is where a team packs it in, thinks about the flight home, and prepares for the "we've gotta get better" post-game press conference.
But John Calipari’s squad actually decided to fight.
🔗 Read more: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
The Surge That Almost Saved Everything
The Hogs mounted a massive 20-3 run in the second half. It was beautiful, chaotic basketball. Darius Acuff Jr. was basically a one-man wrecking crew, driving the lane and getting to the charity stripe with a frequency that clearly annoyed the home crowd. He finished with 20 points, and when he buried a three-pointer with about six and a half minutes left, the game was tied at 68.
The momentum had completely shifted.
You could feel the air leave the building in Athens. Arkansas had all the juice. They even tied it up again at 70-70. But then, the wheels didn't just come off—they disintegrated.
💡 You might also like: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
Where It All Went Wrong
Georgia, led by Jeremiah Wilkinson’s 20 points and Blue Cain’s 18, didn't blink. While the Razorbacks spent all their energy climbing out of that deep hole, they had nothing left for the finish line. They went cold. Ice cold.
We’re talking about making only one of their final 12 shots. That’s a stat that’ll keep a coaching staff up at night.
Georgia responded with a 20-6 run to close out the game. It’s hard to win when you can’t buy a bucket in the final five minutes. The Bulldogs stayed patient, hit their free throws, and exploited a tired Arkansas defense that had used up its "miracle" quota for the day.
📖 Related: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Breaking Down the Box Score
- Darius Acuff Jr.: 20 points, including the game-tying bucket. He’s the engine, but even engines overheat.
- Rebounding: Arkansas actually won the battle on the glass, 43-35. That’s usually a winning stat, which makes the loss even more frustrating.
- Closing Time: Georgia outscored the Hogs 22-8 over the final six minutes. That’s where the game was won and lost.
- Turnovers: The early giveaways are what created the 19-point deficit in the first place. You can't play catch-up for 30 minutes in the SEC and expect to have legs at the end.
This team shows flashes of being elite. You don't erase a 19-point lead on the road against a ranked opponent without having some serious talent and "want-to." However, the lack of a secondary scoring option when Acuff is being hounded is a glaring issue. Billy Richmond III added 12 points and 9 rebounds, but the Hogs needed one more person to step up when Georgia went on that final tear.
What Happens Now?
The Razorbacks drop to 13-5 overall and 3-2 in conference play. It’s not time to panic, but the "moral victory" of a comeback doesn't show up in the standings. This game proved that while Arkansas can compete with anyone, their margin for error is razor-thin when they start games this slowly.
Next up, the Hogs return to the friendly confines of Bud Walton Arena. They need to find some consistency in their perimeter shooting, or teams are just going to keep sagging off and daring them to win from the outside. If you're looking for the silver lining, it's the grit. But grit without execution in the final four minutes is just a hard-fought loss.
Keep an eye on the injury report and the rotation changes over the next week. Calipari isn't known for standing pat when his team struggles to finish. Expect some adjustments in how they handle late-game sets, especially when the opposing crowd is screaming their heads off. The talent is there, but the "finisher" instinct is still a work in progress.
Actionable Next Steps for Razorback Fans:
- Watch the First Five: In the next game, pay attention to the first five minutes of the half. If they come out flat again, it’s a systemic issue, not just a one-off Georgia problem.
- Monitor the Bench: Look for who Calipari trusts in the final four minutes. This game showed a lack of depth in late-game scoring.
- Check the Standings: The SEC is crowded at the top; every road loss like this makes the home games against Kentucky and Alabama absolute "must-wins."