Razorbacks Show Grit in Physical Battle with Mississippi State
In a game that had all the makings of an SEC slugfest, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Mississippi State Bulldogs went toe-to-toe at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville on Saturday. From the opening tip, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a finesse matchup-it was going to be about toughness, execution, and who could own the paint.
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. set the tone early, attacking the rim with purpose and refusing to shy away from contact. Matched up against Mississippi State’s Jayden Epps, Acuff didn’t just look for his shot-he made it a point to challenge the Bulldogs' perimeter defense every trip down the floor. Whether he was pushing in transition or breaking defenders down in the half-court, Acuff’s aggressiveness was a spark plug for the Razorbacks.
Meanwhile, Trevon Brazile gave Arkansas a steady interior presence. The forward showcased his versatility in the first half-knocking down shots, crashing the boards, and even stepping out to stretch the floor.
But what stood out most was his willingness to drive into traffic and finish through contact. Against a physical Mississippi State frontcourt, that kind of fearlessness speaks volumes.
The Bulldogs didn’t back down. Achor Achor brought his usual edge to the floor, battling Arkansas forward Nick Pringle for position in a first-half sequence that looked more like a wrestling match than a basketball possession.
Both big men fought for every inch of space, and neither gave an inch without a fight. That kind of intensity defined the night.
Meleek Thomas added some perimeter punch for Arkansas, pulling up from deep with confidence. On one first-half possession, he rose over the outstretched arm of Achor Achor and drained a three that silenced the crowd momentarily. It was a reminder that this Razorbacks squad isn’t just built to bang inside-they’ve got shooters who can shift momentum in a heartbeat.
Defensively, Arkansas had their hands full with Quincy Ballard, the Bulldogs’ center who used his size and footwork to carve out space in the paint. Ballard forced the Razorbacks to collapse inside, opening up looks for Mississippi State’s guards. But Arkansas adjusted, tightening rotations and making the Bulldogs work for every bucket.
Head coach Chris Jans could be seen urging his team on from the sidelines, animated and locked in as the Bulldogs tried to claw their way back. Mississippi State played with urgency, especially coming out of the break. Ballard continued to assert himself in the second half, powering through Acuff on one possession to finish at the rim.
But Arkansas answered. Pringle and Acuff connected on a key second-half sequence-Pringle securing a tough rebound and kicking it out to Acuff, who calmly reset the offense and found his forward again for an easy finish. It was the kind of inside-out chemistry that coaches preach about in practice, executed perfectly under pressure.
As the game wore on, the physicality never let up. Every loose ball turned into a scrum.
Every rebound came with a price. And every possession felt like it could swing the game.
That’s SEC basketball in February-gritty, emotional, and high-stakes.
In the end, Arkansas walked away with more than just a hard-earned win-they showed they could go into a hostile environment, take some punches, and still execute when it mattered. That resilience is going to matter down the stretch. And if this game was any indication, the Razorbacks are built to handle the grind.