They can’t all be pretty.
Arkansas won its eighth straight game Saturday, going on an 8-0 run late in the second half to create distance from Mississippi State and take the teams’ second meeting of the season, 63-55.
Mississippi State (14-8, 5-4)won the first game between the two in December. Arkansas (18-5, 7-3) was in the midst of its roughest stretch of the season, losing five of six games from December 11 to January 8. The Razorbacks now haven’t lost since.
The Bulldogs were within a single point with less than two minutes to play, but Jaylin Williams was left unguarded on the win and popped a 3-pointer with 1:40 left to make it a two-possession game.
Chris Lykes followed with another 3 and Au’Diese Toney added a pair of free throws to make it a comfortable finale and send a snow-weary crowd to joy.
Arkansas shot just 38% from the field in the rematch, including a 4-of-19 night from 3-point range. The free-throw line was unkind, as well, as the Hogs went 13 of 22. Still, the Razorbacks ended up outscoring Mississippi State 32-24 in the paint and 18-8 on the fastbreak.
The Bulldogs went more than four minutes without a field goal before snapping that 8-0 run with a 3-pointer just before the final media timeout.
JD Notae led Arkansas with 14 points. Williams and Lykes had 10 apiece.
Next up for Arkansas is No. 1 Auburn at Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night.