No. 18 Arkansas Carries Five-Game Win Streak Into Saturday

AT A GLANCE
Riding a five-game win streak and owning sole possession of second place in the SEC standings, No. 18/17 Arkansas will take on Mississippi State for the second time in two weeks on Saturday. The Razorbacks have won seven of their last 11 SEC road games dating back to last year which includes their first win at Humphrey Coliseum since 2000. Just two weeks removed from a 61-41 win at Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas hasn’t swept a season series from the Bulldogs since 1999-2000.

• Arkansas jumped up six spots in both the AP Top 25 (No. 18) & USA Today Coaches poll (No. 17).
• The Razorbacks (No. 22) are one of six SEC teams in the ESPN RPI top 50.
• Arkansas five wins (5-2) over the RPI top 50 are tied for the 12th-most nationally.
• Arkansas’ 21-5 record is its best start since 1997-98.
• Sophomore BOBBY PORTIS named SEC Player of the Week for the second time on Monday.

#RAZORFACT
First time since 1993-94 and 1994-95 that Arkansas has had back-to-back seasons with a five-game win streak in SEC play. The Razorbacks have won nine straight contests in February.

@RAZORBACKMBB FAST BREAK FACTS
• No. 18 ranking equals its highest this season in the Associated Press Top 25 while No. 17 in the USA Today Coaches poll is a season-best.
• Won 16 of its last 20 SEC regular season games dating back to last year.
• In sole possession of second place in the SEC at 10-3.
• Best start through the first 13 SEC games since 1997-98.
• First time since 1997-98 that Arkansas has started 21-6.
• One of 17 teams in the country with 21 or more wins.
• Own a 5-2 record in SEC games decided by five points or less and have won three conference games after trailing at the half.
• Won nine straight games in February and is 10-2 the last two seasons.
• Own a 4-2 record in SEC road games, good for the most conference road wins since 1994-95.
• Won seven of its last 11 SEC road games dating back to last year … previous seven SEC road wins took 50 attempts.
• Three top 50 RPI road wins – SMU (No. 18), Ole Miss (No. 35) & Georgia (No. 41).
• No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region in Joe Lunardi’s most recent Bracketology released on Feb. 19 that includes six SEC teams.
• Rank in the top 10 nationally in points (80.0/8th), assists (17.2/4th), assist/turnover ratio (1.5/9th) and turnover margin (+4.5/7th).
• Won 27 straight games when leading at the half.
• Lead the SEC in overall scoring (80.0) and in SEC games (75.6).
• One of eight teams averaging 80 points per game.
• Two 100-point games this season is the same total produced by the rest of the SEC combined while it has six the last two seasons which is also the same total by the rest of the league.
• Only power conference team to score 100 points in a league game this year.
• BOBBY PORTIS leads the SEC in scoring in league play (18.5).
• Portis and MICHEL QUALLS have combined for 30+ points 17 times (14-3) and 40+ points in five games (5-0).

COACHING MATCHUP
@RazorbackMBB
Head Coach: Mike Anderson (Tulsa ‘82)
Record at Arkansas: 80-44 (4th Season)
Overall Record: 280-142 (13th Season)
Vs. Mississippi State: 5-4

Mississippi State
Head Coach: Rick Ray (Grand View College ‘94)
Record at Mississippi State: 36-55 (3rd Season)
Overall Record: Same
Vs. Arkansas: 0-3

SERIES HISTORY
Arkansas’ current three-game win streak against Mississippi State equals its longest since the end of the 1999-2000 season. In this year’s first meeting at Bud Walton Arena, the Razorbacks limited the Bulldogs to nine points in the first half, highlighted by a stretch of over 13 minutes without a point. The home team has won 14 of the last 17 meetings between the two programs, but Arkansas snapped a 12-game losing streak at Humphrey Coliseum last year behind 19 points in 17 minutes off the bench by ANTHLON BELL. After meeting twice per year over Arkansas’ first 21 years in the SEC, the two teams met only once the last two seasons.

STARTING 5 QUICK 5 HITS
#31 | Anton BEARD (G)
• Started the last six games (5-1), averaging 9.3 points over 25.7 minutes.
• Averaging 13.5 points on 6-of-7 from three the last two games.
• Scored a season-high 14 points on 4-of-4 from three at Ole Miss.
• Reached double figures six times in SEC play after once in non-conf.
• Taken a team-high 13 charges.
#00 | Rashad MADDEN (G)
• 34th all-time in program history with 1,011 career points.
• His 126 assists are the most by a Razorback since 2008-09.
• Seventh all-time in assists (332), just nine back of Alvin Robertson.
• Team leader with a plus/minus rating of +218 on the year.
• Second in the SEC in assists (4.8) and free throw percentage (.868).
#24 | Michael QUALLS (G)
• Seventh in the SEC in scoring at 15.5 points per game.
• T-2nd in the SEC with nine 20-point games, including eight at home.
• Owns two of the top four scoring performances by an SEC player this year.
• Has appeared on the #SCtop10 12 times in his career.
• Increased scoring average by 10.9 points since his freshman season.
#02 | Alandise HARRIS (F)
• Returned to the starting lineup nine games (8-1) ago.
• Three of four double figure games in SEC play have come on the road.
• Scored 1,140 points over his career at Arkansas and Houston.
• Went 7-for-8 from the field for 15 points during SEC road win at Georgia.
• Out of his 20 double figure outings at Arkansas, 12 have come off the bench.
#10 | Bobby PORTIS (F)
• Earned second SEC Player of the Week honor this season on Monday.
• Watch List for the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award.
• Averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in SEC play.
• SEC leader in double-doubles (8) in league action.
• Career-best 21 straight games in double figures.

RAZORBACKS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
Arkansas moved up six spots in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches poll on Monday, marking the fifth time this season its been ranked by both polls. The Razorbacks are 8-4 as a ranked team in 2014-15, while it’s the latest in the season that they’ve been ranked since the end of 1998-99.

ARKANSAS MADE
Senior RASHAD MADDEN is the first Arkansas native in program history with 1,000 career points, 300 rebounds and 300 assists as a Razorback. The 36th player in program history with 1,000 points, he’s the 13th Arkansas native to accomplish the feat. Madden is fifth among active SEC players in points (1,011) and third in assists (332).

1K WATCH
With seniors ALANDISE HARRIS and RASHAD MADDEN already in the 1,000-point club, Arkansas could have four current players with 1,000 points on its roster this season. The 1991-92 club is the only Arkansas team to have four active 1,000-point scorers.

Qualls – 70
Portis – 124