Rashad Madden had a team-high 16 points for Arkansas (22-5, 11-3 SEC), which held the Bulldogs to one free throw over a 7:47 span in the closing minutes. Michael Qualls added 14 points as the Razorbacks won despite shooting 35.2 percent from the field, including 3-of-15 from 3-point range.

Craig Sword led Mississippi State (12-15, 5-9) with 15 points and five assists, while Gavin Ware chipped in 13 and nine rebounds. Travis Daniels added 11 points but the Bulldogs were hurt by 23 turnovers.

The game was close in the early going, with the two teams tying five times in the first 10 minutes before the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to take an eight-point lead with just over seven minutes to go. But an 8-2 run, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Anton Beard and Jacorey Williams, got the Razorbacks within two with just over five minutes left, and the two teams were separated by just one point at the break.

Mississippi State had a five-point lead midway through the second half, but Arkansas went on a 10-3 run to take the lead back with just over five minutes to play. Portis' dunk with 42 seconds to play put Arkansas up six, but Sword made a 3 and Roquez Johnson had a layup to slice the lead to one with 26 seconds to go before the Razorbacks made five free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mississippi State dominated the glass, outboading Arkansas 42-31. … Neither team shot well from 3-point range, as the Bulldogs finished 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. … Arkansas F Alandise Harris, who entered the game averaging 7.6 points, was held scoreless for just the second time this season on 0-of-5 shooting.