SportbasketballNCAA Basketball
Trevon Brazile stars as No. 14 Arkansas pounds Southern 109-77 in its season opener
In a display of raw, unfiltered talent that had the Bud Walton Arena buzzing like a group chat after a buzzer-beater, Trevon Brazile didn't just return to the court; he staged a full-scale resurrection, dropping a career-high 25 points and snagging 11 rebounds to power the No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks to a dominant 109-77 victory over Southern in the season opener.This wasn't just a game; it was a statement, a cathartic release for a player who was once the talk of Fayetteville before a brutal knee injury sidelined him, leaving fans to wonder 'what if. ' On Monday night, Brazile answered that question with authority, going 8 for 14 from the field and looking every bit the versatile, explosive forward that had NBA scouts circling three seasons ago.But this Hogs squad is more than a one-man redemption story; it's a freshman-powered rocket ship. Darius Acuff Jr., playing with a swagger that belied his rookie status, lit up the scoreboard with 22 points, 20 of which came in a blistering first half that saw Arkansas unleash a 15-3 opening run and then close the half on a 16-4 tear to head into the locker room up 57-32. Not to be outdone, fellow freshman Meleek Thomas added 21 points, proving that Coach Eric Musselman has assembled a freshman class that isn't just here to learn—they're here to dominate from day one.The entire game felt like a highlight reel designed for social media virality, with the Razorbacks outscoring Southern 32-12 on fast-break points and an overwhelming 48-28 in the paint. The most devastating sequence was a nearly nine-minute span in the second half where Arkansas scored 24 consecutive points off field goals at the rim, a demoralizing display of athleticism and precision that left Southern scrambling.For the Jaguars, Michael Jacobs put up a valiant 22 points and Fazl Oshodi added 15, showing the grit of a team picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference's preseason poll, but they were simply outmatched by Arkansas's relentless pace and depth, even with sophomore Kevin Knox sitting out day-to-day with a toe injury. The context here is massive for Arkansas, a program that has become a Sweet 16 fixture, making it four times in the last five seasons.This opening-night explosion signals that despite roster turnover, the culture of high-octane, defensively aggressive basketball remains intact. The real test, however, looms this Saturday on the road against No.22 Michigan State, a matchup that will tell us if this early-season fireworks show is sustainable against elite, physical competition. For now, though, the story is Trevon Brazile's triumphant return and the arrival of a terrifyingly talented freshman duo, giving Razorback fans every reason to believe this team can, once again, make a deep and thrilling run in March.
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#Arkansas Razorbacks
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#Trevon Brazile
#Southern Jaguars
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