Free throw difference puts Mississippi State over Arkansas, 77-70

Mississippi State outscored Arkansas in a huge way from the free-throw line Wednesday night to come away with a 77-70 win in Starkville, Miss.

The shorter Razorbacks out-scored the Bulldogs in the paint, 46-24, but couldn’t overcome a 21-point difference in free throws.

Arkansas out-scored the bigger Mississippi State, 46-24, in the paint, but the Bulldogs were 27-of-31 at the free throw line to claim a 77-70 victory Wednesday night.

The Razorbacks were just 6-of-11 at the free throw line.

Mason Jones and Jimmy Whitt, Jr., each had 20 points for Arkansas, while Jones and Isaiah Joe each pulled down seven rebounds.

Joe, for the second straight game, was completely shut down on the offensive end, getting just five points in the game. He was 2-of-13 from the field and 1-of-8 on 3-pointers. His only made shot from outside the arc came 2:25 into the game.

After that, he was Oh-for-7 and that’s never good for the Razorbacks.

Reggie Perry led the Bulldogs with 26 points and 13 rebounds, as the sophomore was 14-of-15 at the free throw line.

The loss dropped the Hogs to 14-4 overall and evened the league record at 3-3.

Arkansas will step out of conference Saturday, hosting TCU in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge at Bud Walton Arena, starting at 3 p.m.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.