NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Houston Cougars built a first-half lead and held off the Arkansas Razorbacks for a 94-85 men’s basketball victory Saturday at Prudential Center. Houston led 49-41 at halftime and maintained control despite a game-high 27 points from Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. The Cougars’ backcourt duo of Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp combined for 43 points. Houston’s efficient offense, which committed only seven turnovers, proved decisive against an Arkansas team that struggled from the free-throw line, making 21 of 35 attempts. The Cougars improved to 11-1 this season. Arkansas fell to 9-3. Attendance was 6,246.

NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — In a high-octane clash of contrasting styles, the Houston Cougars leveraged superior efficiency and a disruptive defense to outlast the Arkansas Razorbacks 94-85 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Prudential Center. The game, played before a crowd of 6,246, was defined by Houston’s ability to maximize its possessions and Arkansas’s struggle to capitalize on its opportunities. The Cougars scored 94 points on just 72 possessions, translating to a blistering offensive rating of 130.8. Arkansas, by contrast, managed 85 points on 78 possessions, a rating of 109.5, hampered by 12 turnovers and a critical 14-of-35 performance from the free-throw line. Houston improved to 11-1 with the victory, while Arkansas fell to 9-3. The most important part of the game was Houston’s sustained offensive execution and defensive pressure in the final 10 minutes of the first half, which turned a tight contest into a lead the Cougars would never relinquish. After Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. made a layup to pull the Razorbacks within 17-15 with 13:17 remaining in the opening period, Houston embarked on a decisive 19-4 run over the next six minutes. The surge was fueled by defensive activity and balanced scoring. Guard Kingston Flemings ignited the run with a layup off a turnover, and forward Joseph Tugler followed with a steal and a layup. Guard Milos Uzan then connected on a 3-pointer, and after another Arkansas turnover, Flemings found Ramon Walker for a corner three. The Cougars forced four Razorbacks turnovers during the stretch and held Arkansas without a field goal for over four minutes. When forward Isiah Harwell capped the run with a 3-pointer at the 9:51 mark, Houston had built a commanding 36-19 advantage. Arkansas, led by a stellar individual effort from Acuff, chipped away before halftime. The Detroit native scored 10 points in the final six minutes, including a driving layup just before the buzzer, to cut Houston’s lead to 49-41 at the break. Acuff finished with a game-high 27 points and seven assists. The Razorbacks carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a quick 7-2 spurt to close within three points, 51-48, after an Acuff 3-pointer. Houston responded immediately, as it did all afternoon. Emanuel Sharp, who scored 22 points, answered with a tough layup, and after an Arkansas miss, he sank a deep 3-pointer to push the lead back to eight. Arkansas made several pushes, getting within five points on multiple occasions, but each time Houston had a counter. A key sequence came with just over 14 minutes left when Arkansas, trailing 59-52, had a chance to cut deeper into the lead after a flagrant foul call. But Nick Pringle missed both free throws, and Houston capitalized on the ensuing possession with another Sharp 3-pointer to extend the lead back to 10. The Razorbacks’ inability to consistently string together stops, coupled with their woes at the foul line, prevented any sustained comeback. Houston’s backcourt of Flemings and Uzan controlled the tempo, combining for 34 points and nine assists while committing only three turnovers. Flemings added 21 points and five assists, while Uzan had 13 points and four assists. Inside, Arkansas forward Malique Ewin was a force, scoring 20 points and grabbing multiple offensive rebounds, but Houston’s interior defense, led by Tugler and Chris Cenac Jr., limited second-chance opportunities overall. The Cougars also won the assist battle decisively, 7-3, highlighting their more cohesive offensive approach. For Arkansas, Billy Richmond provided a secondary scoring punch with 12 points, but the team shot just 40% from 3-point range and a debilitating 60% from the charity stripe. Houston was more efficient from the field (51.6% to 49.1%) and from beyond the arc (44%). The Cougars, who entered as 4.5-point favorites, covered the spread with the nine-point victory. The total score of 179 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 143.5. Houston will next host Middle Tennessee on Dec. 29. Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play at home against Tennessee on Jan. 3.

Preview: Houston Cougars vs. Arkansas Razorbacks NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — Two of the nation’s hottest teams will clash in a high-profile nonconference showdown when the sixth-ranked Houston Cougars face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday at Prudential Center. Houston (10-1) brings a stifling defense and a nine-game winning streak to Newark, its only loss a three-point setback to Tennessee last month. The Cougars are coming off a dominant 99-57 rout of New Orleans on Dec. 13, where they showcased their depth with three players scoring 15 points, including guard Mercy Miller. Miller, a key reserve, has provided efficient offense, averaging 15 points in just 20 minutes in that win. He will be a player to watch for Houston. Arkansas (9-2) counters with a potent offense led by dynamic guard Darius Acuff Jr., who is playing at an All-American level. The Razorbacks have won five straight, averaging 94.6 points per game during that stretch. Acuff is coming off a 23-point, 10-assist performance in a 108-80 win over Queens (N.C.) on Dec. 16 and has recorded three double-doubles in his last four games. “He’s the engine that makes them go,“ Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of Acuff. “We have to be disciplined and try to limit his playmaking.“ The matchup pits Houston’s nation-leading defense, which allows just 52.5 points per game, against Arkansas’ explosive, Acuff-driven attack. The Razorbacks’ two losses came against then-Duke and on the road at Michigan State, both by single digits. “This is exactly the kind of test we need,“ Arkansas coach John Calipari said. “Houston is as tough and physical as any team in the country. We have to match that intensity and execute under pressure.“ The game is a homecoming of sorts for Acuff, a New Jersey native, and is part of a doubleheader at the Prudential Center. It marks the final major nonconference test for both teams before league play begins in January. Houston will rely on its trademark defensive pressure and balanced scoring, while Arkansas will look to push the tempo behind Acuff and forward Trevon Brazile, who scored 26 points in the team’s last outing. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 20.