In a game full of loud cheers and boos, fans at Rupp Arena greeted former Kentucky coach John Calipari as he returned to Lexington for the first time since becoming Arkansas’ head coach.
Calipari left as the victor, as Adou Thiero, a former Kentucky player, scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds to help the Razorbacks win 89-79.
Johnell Davis scored 18 points, and D.J. Wagner, another former Wildcat, scored all 17 of his points in the second half while also dishing out eight assists. Zvonimir Ivisic hit four 3-pointers, finishing with 14 points. Former Kentucky recruit Karter Knox added 10 points for the Razorbacks (13-8, 2-6 SEC), who handed Calipari a satisfying win over the team he had coached for 15 seasons.
“They were fearless. Hard game to win in this building. I’ve been here,” said Calipari, who led Kentucky to a national championship, four Final Fours, and a 410-123 record.
Amari Williams scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Jaxson Robinson added 20 points for Kentucky (15-6, 4-4), who lost their third game in the last four.
Ansley Almonor contributed 12 points for Kentucky, who started hot, making their first six shots and taking an 18-12 lead. But Arkansas kept answering back. After falling behind 30-25 in the first half, the Razorbacks went on a nine-point run, sparked by two baskets from Thiero and capped by a 3-pointer from Davis, taking a 34-30 lead.
Kentucky regained the lead, but 3-pointers by Trevon Brazile and Knox put Arkansas ahead 46-45 at halftime. The Razorbacks would never trail again.
In the second half, Wagner hit a 3-pointer and followed with a reverse layup. When Ivisic nailed a triple, it capped an eight-point run and pushed Arkansas’ lead to 58-47.
From that point, every time Kentucky made a run, Arkansas answered with key plays from Thiero and Wagner.
Despite their struggles this season, the Razorbacks shot 55.2 percent from the field and made 13 of 25 (52 percent) from beyond the arc.
