Rick Stansbury has always claimed that Mississippi State's most important game is the next one.

With only two games remaining in the regular season tonight's 8 p.m. tilt with Arkansas certainly qualifies. If the Bulldogs have the opportunity to leave Bud Walton Arena with sole possession of second place and a first round bye in the SEC Tournament.

The Razorbacks hold a slight edge in the series at 27-23 although MSU has claimed five of the last six games. The Bulldogs claimed the a 67-56 win earlier this season in Starkville with junior point guard Dee Bost scoring 18 points. The win also gave head coach Rick Stansbury a winning record against every team in the Western Division.

State enters tonight's game with a 15-13 overall record and a 7-7 mark inside the league. The Bulldogs are coming off a thrilling 70-69 victory over Tennessee in Knoxville wrapping Jack Cristil's storybook 58-years behind the microphone in maroon and white.



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