Mississippi State coach Ben Howland was well aware Arkansas was without leading scorer JD Notae and two more players, but it did not diminish his team's win Wednesday.
Redshirt junior forward Tolu Smith celebrated a return to the court after battling a fractured toe injury for 4 months with 18 points and 6 rebounds as Mississippi State downed Arkansas 81-68 at Humphrey Coliseum.
Stanley Umude had 19 points and Devonte "Devo" Davis 15 to lead the Razorbacks (10-3, 0-1 SEC), who played without Notae (illness), reserve Chance Moore (illness) and Kamani Johnson, who was indefinitely suspended.
“You want to hold your serve whenever you are at home," Howland said.