Field Level Media
Feb 2, 2021
Connor Vanover and Moses Moody each scored 13 points to lead Arkansas to a 61-45 win over Mississippi State in an SEC contest in Fayetteville, Ark., on Tuesday.
Davonte Davis and Justin Smith each added 10 points for Arkansas (14-5, 6-4 SEC), which won its fourth straight conference game.
Tolu Smith also scored 10 points, making him the only player to reach double figures for Mississippi State (10-9, 4-6), which has lost four straight conference games.
Turnovers and shooting were problems for both teams.
Arkansas committed 17 turnovers, but that was still significantly less than the 26 by Mississippi State.
Arkansas won despite shooting 35.9 percent from the field overall (23 of 64) and 2 of 17 (11.8 percent) from 3-point range.
Mississippi State shot 30.6 percent overall (15 of 49) and 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Arkansas also held a sizeable edge on the boards, outrebounding the Bulldogs, 45-34.
Leading 28-24 early in the second half, Arkansas started to get some separation, going on a 10-0 run to take a 38-24 lead with 16:25 remaining.
Trailing 42-26 with 13:17 left, Mississippi State responded with an 11-0 run to cut its deficit to 42-37 with 9:36 remaining.
But Arkansas had an answer, scoring the next seven points to take a 49-37 lead with 7:24 to go.
The Razorbacks then stretched their lead to 55-40 with 4:07 remaining.
Mississippi State got off to a terrific start, jumping out to a 16-3 lead with 9:09 remaining in the first half.
Arkansas crept back in the game after that, finding some rhythm on offense and going a 12-0 run to close within 18-17 with 4:25 left until halftime.
After the Bulldogs took a 20-17 lead, Arkansas closed the first half with an 11-2 run to take a 28-22 lead at halftime.
--Field Level Media