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Arkansas knocks off Mississippi State

Jan 8, 2012 - 6:55 AM Fayetteville, AR (Sports Network) - Julysses Nobles and B.J. Young each scored 24 points, and Arkansas convincingly knocked off No. 15 Mississippi State, 98-88, in the SEC opener for both teams.

Nobles made four three-pointers and Young connected on 10-of-13 from the floor, highlighting a 57-percent shooting effort for the Razorbacks, (12-3, 1-0 SEC). Michael Sanchez and Mardracus Wade donated 12 points apiece in Arkansas' seventh straight win.

"It was a great win against a great team," Young said. "It was a great, total team win."

Deville Smith had 25 points and Dee Bost scored 21 points to lead the Bulldogs 13-3, 0-1), who committed 18 turnovers in their second loss in three games.

Arkansas led by as many as 10 in the first half and took a 43-37 lead into the intermission.

The Razorbacks extended the lead to 55-41 after back-to-back three-pointers by Nobles and Young less than four minutes after the break.

Young scored seven points on a 9-2 run a little later, pushing the margin to 66-47 with 13 minutes to play.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 79-68 with seven minutes remaining, but turned the ball over during their next two possessions. Nobles' three-point play on the ensuing touch ignited a 9-2 spurt that essentially put the game away.

Game Notes

Arkansas has won 11 straight at home...Mississippi State had won six of the previous seven meetings, including a pair last season...Rodney Hood logged 17 points in the setback.