In a tightly contested battle, the Arkansas Razorbacks pulled off a late rally to defeat the Miami Hurricanes 76-73 on Tuesday night in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Freshman standout Boogie Fland led the way for Arkansas, delivering a clutch performance with 18 points and six assists, including crucial plays in the final moments.
With just under two minutes to play, Arkansas (6-2) found itself trailing 71-69. Zvonimir Ivisic ignited the comeback with a critical 3-pointer, followed by two free throws and a corner 3 from Fland, giving Arkansas its first lead since the opening minutes at 74-71. Miami’s Nigel Pack, who finished with a game-high 22 points, responded with a jumper to cut the lead to one. However, Fland coolly sank a pull-up jumper with 52 seconds left, extending Arkansas’ lead to 76-73.
Miami (3-5) had a chance to force overtime after Adou Thiero missed two free throws with 11 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Jalen Blackmon’s potential game-tying 3-pointer clanged off the rim as the final buzzer sounded.
Fland’s poise in the clutch wasn’t the only highlight for the Razorbacks. D.J. Wagner contributed 14 points, consistently attacking the rim, while Johnell Davis provided a crucial spark in the second half, scoring 11 of his 12 points after the break. Ivisic chipped in 11 points, including his pivotal late 3-pointer.
“Our guys showed incredible resilience tonight,” said Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman. “Boogie stepped up when we needed him most, and the whole team battled back in the second half to secure this win.”
For Miami, the loss marks their fifth straight defeat, dropping them to 3-5 on the season. Pack’s scoring and leadership kept the Hurricanes in control for much of the game, while Matthew Cleveland posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Blackmon added 12 points, but his missed 3-pointer at the buzzer sealed Miami’s fate.
The Hurricanes had built an early lead, with Pack hitting a 3-pointer just over three minutes into the game to spark a run that kept Miami ahead for most of the night. Arkansas closed the gap repeatedly, but Miami managed to respond each time until the final minutes.
“We had our chances,” said Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga. “We’ve got to find a way to close out these games. Credit to Arkansas, they made the plays when it mattered.”
The Razorbacks’ two losses this season have come against ranked opponents, falling to No. 15 Baylor and No. 19 Illinois at neutral sites. Despite those setbacks, Arkansas has shown resilience and the ability to compete against high-level competition.
The victory over Miami in the SEC/ACC Challenge could be a turning point as they head into the heart of their non-conference schedule.
Meanwhile, Miami is searching for answers after another tough loss. Their recent slide includes an embarrassing defeat to Charleston Southern, a team with just one win over a Division I opponent this season.
The Hurricanes will need to regroup quickly if they hope to turn their season around before ACC play begins.
Arkansas will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for another challenging matchup. Miami, on the other hand, will try to snap their losing streak and regain their footing in what has been a frustrating early season.
The SEC/ACC Challenge showcased the intensity and drama college basketball fans have come to expect, with Arkansas emerging victorious in a game that could serve as a springboard for the Razorbacks’ season.
