JMAD

ARK

Freshman Meleek Thomas scores career-best 28 points as No. 18 Arkansas beats James Madison 103-74

AP
Dec 29, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Freshman reserve Meleek Thomas scored a career-high 28 points and No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks beat James Madison Dukes 103-74 on Monday night.

Thomas shot 8 of 16 from the floor and 6 of 10 from 3-point range. He scored 18 points in the first half as Arkansas (10-3) built a 20-point lead at the break and extended its home winning streak to eight games this season.

Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half. Acuff and Thomas combined for 30 of Arkansas’ 48 points in the opening 20 minutes. D.J. Wagner pitched in with 14 points and Malique added 11.

Bradley Douglas led James Madison (7-7) with 19 points, and Justin McBride added 13. The Dukes fell to 1-7 in road games this season.

James Madison closed within 16 points with 10:43 left in the second half before Arkansas went on a 15-0 run that included two 3-pointers by Thomas.

James Madison tried to keep pace and shot 12 for 32 from long distance, but Arkansas capitalized when mistakes occurred, forcing 14 turnovers and scoring 21 points off the giveaways.

James Madison: Opens Sun Belt Conference play at Arkansas State on Saturday.

Arkansas: Hosts No. 19 Tennessee to start its Southeastern Conference season on Saturday.

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1st Half
JMU
Dukes
28
ARK
Razorbacks
48

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Gabe Newhof vs. Trevon Brazile (Razorbacks gains possession)
19:42		Darius Acuff Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:40		Eddie Ricks III defensive rebound
19:19		Eddie Ricks III turnover (bad pass) (Trevon Brazile steals)
19:13	+2	Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Trevon Brazile assists)	0-2
18:57		Bradley Douglas misses three point jump shot
18:55		Karter Knox defensive rebound
18:40		Trevon Brazile misses three point jump shot
18:38		Bradley Douglas defensive rebound
18:26	+2	Gabe Newhof makes two point layup (Cliff Davis assists)	2-2
18:05		Trevon Brazile misses three point jump shot
18:03		Dukes defensive rebound
17:45		Justin McBride misses three point jump shot
17:43		Karter Knox defensive rebound
17:27		Karter Knox misses three point jump shot
17:25		Eddie Ricks III defensive rebound
17:18	+3	Bradley Douglas makes three point jump shot (Eddie Ricks III assists)	5-2
17:05		Gabe Newhof shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
17:05		D.J. Wagner misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:05	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	5-3
16:42		Justin McBride misses three point jump shot
16:40		Christian Brown offensive rebound
16:33		Trevon Brazile blocks Eddie Ricks III's two point layup
16:33		Razorbacks defensive rebound
16:15	+2	Darius Acuff Jr. makes two point jump shot	5-5
15:44		Eddie Ricks III turnover (bad pass) (Malique Ewin steals)
15:37		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
15:35		Christian Brown defensive rebound
15:22	+2	Bradley Douglas makes two point layup	7-5
15:11	+2	Darius Acuff Jr. makes two point layup	7-7
14:50		Eddie Ricks III misses three point jump shot
14:48		Malique Ewin defensive rebound
14:40	+2	Malique Ewin makes two point dunk (Darius Acuff Jr. assists)	7-9
14:27		Dukes turnover (10-second violation)
14:27		TV timeout
14:19		Meleek Thomas misses three point jump shot
14:17		Preston Fowler defensive rebound
13:57		Bradley Douglas turnover (traveling)
13:42		Christian Brown blocks Malique Ewin's two point layup
13:40		Malique Ewin offensive rebound
13:38		Bradley Douglas shooting foul (Meleek Thomas draws the foul)
13:38	+1	Meleek Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-10
13:38	+1	Meleek Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-11
13:17		Bradley Douglas misses three point jump shot
13:15		Gabe Newhof offensive rebound
13:12		Trevon Brazile blocks Gabe Newhof's two point layup
13:10		Gabe Newhof offensive rebound
13:07		Nick Pringle blocks Gabe Newhof's two point layup
13:05		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
12:53		Preston Fowler shooting foul (Meleek Thomas draws the foul)
12:53	+1	Meleek Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-12
12:53	+1	Meleek Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-13
12:23	+2	Gabe Newhof makes two point jump shot	9-13
12:08	+3	Meleek Thomas makes three point jump shot (Darius Acuff Jr. assists)	9-16
11:59	+3	Preston Fowler makes three point jump shot (Paul Jones III assists)	12-16
11:35		Billy Richmond III misses three point jump shot
11:33		Trevon Brazile offensive rebound
11:30	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point layup (Trevon Brazile assists)	12-18
10:58		Preston Fowler misses three point jump shot
10:56		Malique Ewin defensive rebound
10:48	+3	Meleek Thomas makes three point jump shot (Darius Acuff Jr. assists)	12-21
10:18		Bradley Douglas turnover (bad pass) (Trevon Brazile steals)
10:14	+2	Malique Ewin makes two point dunk (Darius Acuff Jr. assists)	12-23
10:14		Dukes 30 second timeout
10:14		TV timeout
9:43		Dukes turnover (shot clock violation)
9:33		Eddie Ricks III shooting foul (Malique Ewin draws the foul)
9:33	+1	Malique Ewin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-24
9:33		Malique Ewin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:33		Justin McBride defensive rebound
9:09		Paul Lewis misses two point jump shot
9:07		Malique Ewin defensive rebound
8:55		Karter Knox misses two point layup
8:53		Karter Knox offensive rebound
8:51		Karter Knox misses two point layup
8:49		Paul Lewis defensive rebound
8:48		Meleek Thomas personal foul
8:31		Bradley Douglas misses two point layup
8:29		Billy Richmond III defensive rebound
8:23	+3	Meleek Thomas makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	12-27
8:16		D.J. Wagner personal foul
8:15		Bradley Douglas turnover (bad pass) (Malique Ewin steals)
8:07	+3	Meleek Thomas makes three point jump shot (Billy Richmond III assists)	12-30
7:49		Christian Brown turnover (lost ball) (Malique Ewin steals)
7:49		Christian Brown personal foul
7:49		TV timeout
7:34	+2	Meleek Thomas makes two point jump shot	12-32
7:14	+3	Bradley Douglas makes three point jump shot (Cliff Davis assists)	15-32
6:57		Meleek Thomas misses two point jump shot
6:55		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
6:46	+3	Darius Acuff Jr. makes three point jump shot	15-35
6:28	+2	Justin McBride makes two point jump shot	17-35
6:09		Meleek Thomas misses three point jump shot
6:07		Justin McBride defensive rebound
6:02		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
6:00		Meleek Thomas defensive rebound
5:55	+3	D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Darius Acuff Jr. assists)	17-38
5:25	+3	Justin McBride makes three point jump shot	20-38
5:19	+3	Darius Acuff Jr. makes three point jump shot	20-41
5:01	+2	Eddie Ricks III makes two point jump shot	22-41
4:53		Darius Acuff Jr. misses three point jump shot
4:51		Meleek Thomas offensive rebound
4:37		Justin McBride personal foul
4:28	+2	Karter Knox makes two point layup (Malique Ewin assists)	22-43
4:08		Paul Jones III misses three point jump shot
4:06		Eddie Ricks III offensive rebound
4:02		Eddie Ricks III misses two point layup
4:00		Eli Wilborn offensive rebound
4:00		Darius Acuff Jr. shooting foul (Eli Wilborn draws the foul)
4:00		TV timeout
4:00		Eli Wilborn misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:00	+1	Eli Wilborn makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-43
3:46		Billy Richmond III turnover (bad pass)
3:19		Paul Jones III misses three point jump shot
3:17		Darius Acuff Jr. defensive rebound
3:05		Billy Richmond III misses three point jump shot
3:03		Eddie Ricks III defensive rebound
2:55	+2	Justin McBride makes two point layup (Paul Jones III assists)	25-43
2:36		Darius Acuff Jr. misses two point jump shot
2:34		Justin McBride defensive rebound
2:11		Justin McBride misses three point jump shot
2:09		Eddie Ricks III offensive rebound
2:04	+3	Paul Jones III makes three point jump shot (Eddie Ricks III assists)	28-43
1:47		D.J. Wagner misses two point layup
1:45		Gabe Newhof defensive rebound
1:40		Paul Jones III turnover (bad pass)
1:29	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point dunk (Billy Richmond III assists)	28-45
1:06		Trevon Brazile personal foul
1:02		Bradley Douglas misses three point jump shot
1:00		Billy Richmond III defensive rebound
0:54		Darius Acuff Jr. misses two point layup
0:52		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
0:52		Gabe Newhof shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul)
0:52		Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:52	+1	Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-46
0:24		Gabe Newhof misses two point layup
0:22		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
0:04	+2	Darius Acuff Jr. makes two point jump shot	28-48
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
JMU
Dukes
46
ARK
Razorbacks
55

Time		Play	Score
19:48		Nick Pringle shooting foul (Justin McBride draws the foul)
19:48	+1	Justin McBride makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-48
19:48	+1	Justin McBride makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-48
19:27		Trevon Brazile misses two point jump shot
19:25		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
19:21	+2	Karter Knox makes two point dunk (Nick Pringle assists)	30-50
19:03	+2	Justin McBride makes two point jump shot	32-50
18:53	+3	Darius Acuff Jr. makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	32-53
18:26		Trevon Brazile blocks Bradley Douglas's two point layup
18:24		Bradley Douglas offensive rebound
18:16	+2	Bradley Douglas makes two point layup	34-53
18:12		Gabe Newhof shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul)
18:12		Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:12	+1	Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-54
17:56	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot	37-54
17:39	+3	D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Karter Knox assists)	37-57
17:24		Jump ball. Justin McBride vs. Nick Pringle (Nick Pringle gains possession)
17:24		Justin McBride turnover (lost ball) (Nick Pringle steals)
17:03		Trevon Brazile turnover (lost ball) (Bradley Douglas steals)
16:57	+3	Preston Fowler makes three point jump shot (Bradley Douglas assists)	40-57
16:50		Razorbacks 30 second timeout
16:50		TV timeout
16:39	+3	Karter Knox makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	40-60
16:07		Bradley Douglas misses three point jump shot
16:05		Malique Ewin defensive rebound
16:00		Darius Acuff Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:58		Preston Fowler defensive rebound
15:40	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot (Bradley Douglas assists)	43-60
15:27		Meleek Thomas misses three point jump shot
15:25		Malique Ewin offensive rebound
15:20		Christian Brown blocks Malique Ewin's two point layup
15:18		Preston Fowler defensive rebound
15:11		Bradley Douglas turnover (bad pass) (Billy Richmond III steals)
15:05	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point layup	43-62
15:01		Meleek Thomas personal foul (Bradley Douglas draws the foul)
15:01		TV timeout
14:59		Darius Acuff Jr. personal foul
14:46	+2	Bradley Douglas makes two point layup	45-62
14:31		Preston Fowler personal foul
14:21	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point layup (Darius Acuff Jr. assists)	45-64
14:10		Malique Ewin personal foul
14:01	+3	Bradley Douglas makes three point jump shot (Justin McBride assists)	48-64
13:45	+2	Malique Ewin makes two point dunk (Billy Richmond III assists)	48-66
13:24	+2	Christian Brown makes two point dunk (Bradley Douglas assists)	50-66
13:07		Christian Brown shooting foul (Meleek Thomas draws the foul)
13:07	+1	Meleek Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-67
13:07	+1	Meleek Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-68
12:53		Bradley Douglas misses two point jump shot
12:51		Eli Wilborn offensive rebound
12:45		Malique Ewin blocks Eli Wilborn's two point jump shot
12:45		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
12:44	+2	Meleek Thomas makes two point layup	50-70
12:44		Bradley Douglas shooting foul (Meleek Thomas draws the foul)
12:44		Meleek Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:44		Eddie Ricks III defensive rebound
12:19	+3	Bradley Douglas makes three point jump shot	53-70
11:53		Darius Acuff Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Eli Wilborn steals)
11:46		Malique Ewin blocks Preston Fowler's two point layup
11:44		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
11:22		Billy Richmond III turnover (bad pass) (Eli Wilborn steals)
11:18		Trevon Brazile shooting foul (Eddie Ricks III draws the foul)
11:18		TV timeout
11:18	+1	Eddie Ricks III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-70
11:18	+1	Eddie Ricks III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-70
10:59		Eli Wilborn shooting foul (Malique Ewin draws the foul)
10:59	+1	Malique Ewin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-71
10:59	+1	Malique Ewin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-72
10:43		Malique Ewin shooting foul (Paul Jones III draws the foul)
10:43		Paul Jones III misses regular free throw 1 of 3
10:43	+1	Paul Jones III makes regular free throw 2 of 3	56-72
10:43		Paul Jones III misses regular free throw 3 of 3
10:43		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
10:22		Meleek Thomas misses two point jump shot
10:20		Razorbacks offensive rebound
10:20		Eli Wilborn personal foul
10:13		D.J. Wagner misses two point layup
10:11		Justin McBride defensive rebound
9:53		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
9:51		Billy Richmond III defensive rebound
9:42	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point dunk (Billy Richmond III assists)	56-74
9:29		Justin McBride turnover (bad pass)
9:12	+3	Meleek Thomas makes three point jump shot (Billy Richmond III assists)	56-77
8:48		Justin McBride misses two point layup
8:46		Billy Richmond III defensive rebound
8:40	+2	Trevon Brazile makes two point dunk (Billy Richmond III assists)	56-79
8:39		Dukes 30 second timeout
8:14		Bradley Douglas misses three point jump shot
8:12		Trevon Brazile defensive rebound
8:06	+2	Billy Richmond III makes two point jump shot (Trevon Brazile assists)	56-81
7:46		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
7:44		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
7:37	+3	Meleek Thomas makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	56-84
7:23	+2	Justin McBride makes two point layup	58-84
7:07		Bradley Douglas shooting foul (Trevon Brazile draws the foul)
7:07		TV timeout
7:07	+1	Trevon Brazile makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-85
7:07	+1	Trevon Brazile makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-86
6:46		Bradley Douglas misses three point jump shot
6:44		Karter Knox defensive rebound
6:34		Meleek Thomas misses two point jump shot
6:32		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
6:25	+3	D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Nick Pringle assists)	58-89
6:04	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot (Preston Fowler assists)	61-89
5:49	+3	D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Sealy assists)	61-92
5:22		Bradley Douglas turnover (bad pass)
5:07		Bradley Douglas shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
5:07	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-93
5:07		D.J. Wagner misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:07		Christian Brown defensive rebound
5:06		Karter Knox personal foul (Christian Brown draws the foul)
5:06	+1	Christian Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-93
5:06	+1	Christian Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-93
4:47		Meleek Thomas misses three point jump shot
4:45		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
4:41		Justin McBride blocks Karter Knox's two point layup
4:39		Justin McBride defensive rebound
4:27		Justin McBride misses two point jump shot
4:25		Malique Ewin defensive rebound
4:20		Justin McBride shooting foul (Isaiah Sealy draws the foul)
4:20	+1	Isaiah Sealy makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-94
4:20	+1	Isaiah Sealy makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-95
4:03		Justin McBride turnover (bad pass)
3:43		Meleek Thomas misses two point jump shot
3:42		Razorbacks offensive rebound
3:42		Christian Brown personal foul (Malique Ewin draws the foul)
3:42		TV timeout
3:42		Malique Ewin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:42	+1	Malique Ewin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-96
3:19	+2	Christian Brown makes two point layup (Bradley Douglas assists)	65-96
2:57		Malique Ewin turnover (lost ball) (Bradley Douglas steals)
2:51		Bradley Douglas misses two point layup
2:49		Malique Ewin defensive rebound
2:44		D.J. Wagner misses two point layup
2:43		Malique Ewin offensive rebound
2:43		Justin McBride shooting foul (Malique Ewin draws the foul)
2:43		Malique Ewin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:43	+1	Malique Ewin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	65-97
2:31		Isaiah Sealy personal foul (Bradley Douglas draws the foul)
2:31	+1	Bradley Douglas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-97
2:31		Bradley Douglas misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:31		Isaiah Sealy defensive rebound
2:17	+2	Darius Acuff Jr. makes two point layup	66-99
1:51		Preston Fowler misses three point jump shot
1:49		Christian Brown offensive rebound
1:45		Paul Jones III misses three point jump shot
1:43		Paul Jones III offensive rebound
1:40		Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ shooting foul (Paul Jones III draws the foul)
1:40	+1	Paul Jones III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-99
1:40	+1	Paul Jones III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-99
1:28		Preston Fowler shooting foul (Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ draws the foul)
1:28		Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:28	+1	Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-100
1:21		Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ personal foul (Justin Taylor draws the foul)
1:21	+1	Justin Taylor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-100
1:21		Justin Taylor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:21		Isaiah Sealy defensive rebound
1:12		Kose Egbule shooting foul (Amere Brown draws the foul)
1:12		Amere Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:12		Amere Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:12		Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ offensive rebound
1:07		Elmir DÅ¾afiÄ turnover (lost ball)
0:56		Kose Egbule misses three point jump shot
0:54		Eli Wilborn offensive rebound
0:50	+3	Paul Jones III makes three point jump shot (Eli Wilborn assists)	72-100
0:30	+3	Ayden Kelley makes three point jump shot	72-103
0:08		Paul Jones III misses three point jump shot
0:06		Preston Fowler offensive rebound
0:06		Jaden Karuletwa shooting foul (Preston Fowler draws the foul)
0:06	+1	Preston Fowler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-103
0:06	+1	Preston Fowler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-103
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Preston Fowler makes regular free throw 2 of 2