Alabama Beats Arkansas Double Overtime
No. 25 Alabama defeated No. 20 Arkansas 117-115 in double overtime on February 18, with freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. scoring 49 points while playing all 50 minutes. The Crimson Tide overcame multiple double-digit deficits at Coleman Coliseum, with Alabama's defensive switch from drop coverage to switching everything helping stifle Arkansas drives. NBA scouts are reportedly projecting Acuff as a lottery pick after his performance.
- Alabama's offense was powered by career-high scoring from sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr., who had 35 points, and freshman forward Aiden Sherrell, who posted 26 points and 13 rebounds. - The game-winning shot was a three-pointer by Alabama guard Houston Mallette with 51 seconds left in the second overtime. Mallette had been scoreless through regulation but hit two crucial threes in the overtime periods. - The Crimson Tide erased a 14-point second-half deficit, using a 15-2 run to get back into the game. - Alabama's 117 points marked the second-most scored in a single game in the program's history. - With the victory, both Alabama and Arkansas now hold identical 19-7 overall records and are tied in the Southeastern Conference standings with 9-4 conference records. - Arkansas's offense was incredibly efficient in the first half, scoring at a rate of 1.629 points per possession while building a 10-point halftime lead. - The game's intensity led to significant foul trouble for the Razorbacks, with four of their players fouling out by the end of the second overtime.
