Arkansas Razorbacks Defeat Mississippi State Bulldogs in SEC Matchup

Razorbacks cover 6.5-point spread in road victory

Feb. 7, 2026 at 7:15am

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The No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 86-75 in an SEC college basketball matchup on Saturday afternoon. Arkansas, led by freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr.'s 20+ points per game, was able to cover the 6.5-point spread as the Razorbacks' explosive offense proved too much for the struggling Bulldogs.

Why it matters

This win keeps Arkansas in contention for the SEC title, as they remain just one game out of first place in the conference standings. Meanwhile, the loss drops Mississippi State further down the SEC standings as they continue to struggle at home this season.

The details

Arkansas' strong offensive performance, led by Darius Acuff Jr.'s scoring, allowed them to pull away from Mississippi State. The Razorbacks shot an impressive 49.8% from three-point range on the season and were able to dictate the pace of the game. On the other hand, Mississippi State's defense has struggled all year, allowing the second-most points per game in the SEC.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • Arkansas entered the game ranked 21st in the latest AP poll.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

A freshman guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks who is averaging over 20 points per game this season, one of only 28 players in the nation to do so.

Josh Hubbard

A key player for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who the Arkansas defense will need to shut down in order to win the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with the same intensity and focus that has gotten us to this point in the season. Darius has been a huge part of our success, but it's going to take a full team effort to come away with a win on the road.”

— Eric Musselman, Head Coach, Arkansas Razorbacks

What’s next

Arkansas will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the SEC title, while Mississippi State will try to rebound and improve their conference standing.

The takeaway

This game showcased the offensive firepower of the Arkansas Razorbacks, led by the standout play of freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. Despite Mississippi State's struggles at home this season, Arkansas was able to cover the spread and secure a convincing road victory in SEC play.