Arkansas came up short in a 69-66 loss at Michigan State in its first test of the season Saturday, but Razorbacks coach John Calipari called the result not all bad.
“You want to win every game,” Calipari said, “but at this time of the year, you win or you learn. We learned. We learned about each other. Guys have to take responsibility, hold themselves accountable. We certainly saw some things we can get better at.”
The Razorbacks (1-1) dropped seven spots to No. 21 in the AP Top 25 poll and will play host to Central Arkansas on Tuesday in Fayetteville, Ark.
The Razorbacks have played the Bears three times since 2020-21 and won all three by at least 25 points. Returners Karter Knox and D.J. Wagner had 14 and 13 points, respectively, in Arkansas’ 82-57 victory in Fayetteville a year ago.
Arkansas had several chances to tie Michigan State late, after forward Nick Pringle’s free throw with 1:41 remaining tied the game at 66. But the Razorbacks missed their final five field goal attempts, three from distance, as the Spartans gradually extended their lead with free throws.
Prize freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, who had a team-high 16 points apiece, missed two shots apiece down the stretch. Trevon Brazile missed a forced, off-balance three on the final play with two seconds remaining.
Acuff, who had 22 points in the season opener, started for the second straight game and Thomas again came off the bench after scoring 21 in the opener.
“They had been playing well, but they didn’t (Saturday),” Calipari said of Acuff and Thomas. “There were plays that they could have made for their teammates that they tried to make for themselves, and it didn’t work out so good.”
Acuff and Thomas were a combined 10 for 31 from the floor, 4 of 17 from distance. The Razorbacks shot 39.3% from the field and were outrebounded 45-33.
“I appreciate (Acuff) and Meleek are not afraid to take game-winning shots. But you work hard to get back in the game, you can’t take a quick one,” Calipari said. “The best players I’ve coached have had to get hit in the mouth.”
Knox made his season debut against the Spartans. He did not score but had four rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes off the bench. Knox missed the 109-77 season-opening victory over Southern with a sprained toe.
Central Arkansas of the Atlantic Sun will continue a testing early nonconference schedule in Fayetteville, their second road game against an AP Top 25 team.
The Bears fell to then-No. 25 North Carolina 94-54 in their season opener Nov. 3 in Chapel Hill before overpowering Champion Christian 110-63 at home on Saturday. Champion plays in the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter, named to the coaches’ 10-man preseason all-conference team, had 13 points and four assists against Champion.
He averaged 15.5 points and 3.7 assists while playing his first two seasons in Conway, Ark., before returning this season. He spent the 2024-25 season at Wisconsin, where he played 11 games.
Bears redshirt freshman guard Ty Robinson is averaging 12.5 points a game and has made six 3-pointers.
