Trevon Brazile's big game elevates No. 17 Arkansas' ceiling

Arkansas' Trevon Brazile rises for the dunk against Texas Tech. Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Trevon Brazile's big game vs. No. 16 Texas Tech elevates No. 17 Arkansas' ceiling

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Dec 13, 2025 3:45 PM ET

Trevon Brazile led No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2) to a second massive nonconference win over a ranked opponent in three games on Saturday.

The fifth-year senior had his second 20-point, 10-rebound double-double of the season, ending the 93-86 neutral-site win over No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-3) with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-5 on three-point attempts, and 10 rebounds.

Trevon Brazile's big game shows Arkansas has high 2025-26 ceiling

The 6-foot-10 forward's performance was particularly huge going against star Texas Tech forward JT Toppin (6-foot-9), who had 30 points and 11 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes of the loss.

Brazile had a massive put-back off his own miss with under three minutes remaining to extend Arkansas' lead to five, 87-82, as the team avenged last season's Sweet 16 overtime loss.

"Wanna see me do it again?" - Trevon Brazile (probably) pic.twitter.com/fMXFYbv3c7
— Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball (@RazorbackMBB) December 13, 2025

After only making four field goals and shooting 33.3 percent in the Razorbacks' first two big nonconference tests — losses to No. 9 Michigan State (9-1) and No. 3 Duke (10-0) — Brazile has played much better in the past two.

On Dec. 3, he scored a team-high 21 points in a 89-80 win over No. 11 Louisville (8-1). Those performances are an excellent sign for Arkansas as it finishes its out-of-conference and begins SEC play in January.

The Razorbacks play No. 7 Houston (9-1) at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Dec. 20 and opens their conference schedule against No. 20 Tennessee (7-3) on Jan. 3.

Brazile will be key to Arkansas improving on last year's 22-14 record. Per KenPom, the Razorbacks average just 1.6 years of Division I experience and are led in scoring by freshman guards Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas.

Brazile's presence could be hugely important to an Arkansas squad that's inexperienced in key areas. It was against Texas Tech. The Razorbacks will likely benefit from it all season long.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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