FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In a game filled with both teams battling back and forth, Arkansas (8-3) used a decisive run in the first half and held on at the end the game to defeat Texas State (10-2), 73-70, on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.
 
The Bobcats had three players score in double figures and outrebounded the Razorbacks 42-34. Tre'Larenz Nottingham made a season-high six three-point field goals and led Texas State with 18 points, while Nijal Pearson netted 16 points and Jaylen Shead added a career-best 14 points and a game-high five assists.
 
Mason Jones led the Razorbacks with 21 points and Daniel Gafford added 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Razorbacks. Isaiah Joe and Jalen Harris both chipped in 10 points.
 
Texas State jumped out to an early 16-6 lead when Nottingham stole a pass to set up Shead for a layup and made three 3-point field goals. Alex Peacock also nailed a three-point shot and Alonzo Sule hit a pair of free throws for two of his six points off the bench for the Bobcats.
 
The Razorbacks answered with a 12-0 run to tie the score at 19-19. First, Mason Jones scored three points with a layup and a free throw on a fast break. Then, Daniel Gafford hit one of his two free throws. The Razorbacks scored three points on their next three possessions to take the lead. First, Gabe Osabouhien nailed a three-pointer from the right wing, then hit Gafford in the paint for a layup. Gafford was fouled on the play and hit the free throw before Jones nailed a three-point to give Arkansas a 23-19 lead.
 
Sule and Mason Harrell combined for a pair of layups off offensive rebounds to pull the Bobcats to within 27-26. But, Arkansas scored six straight points before Harrell made the second of his two free throws. Gafford added another free throw to give the Razorbacks a 34-27 lead at half time.
 
The Bobcats opened the second half with Nijal Pearson hitting a three-point shot to pull Texas State to within 34-30. After both teams exchanged jump shots, Nottingham nailed his fifth trey of the game to pull Texas State to within 36-35.
 
Pearson tied the score at 38-38 on another three-point jumper, but the Razorbacks regained control with a 7-0 run that was capped by a dunk shot by Reggie Chaney on an offensive rebound.
 
The Bobcats wouldn't surrender and used an 8-3 run to pull to within 53-51 when Shead made a pair of free throws. However, Arkansas took their largest lead in the game, 63-53 with 3:20 left on a 10-2 run.
 
The Bobcats got back to within seven, 63-56 on Pearson's three-point shot. After the Razorbacks extended their lead to 66-58, Nottingham made his sixth trey of the game and Pearson nailed another three-pointer from the right side to pull Texas State back to within five points, 70-65 with 24.1 seconds left.
 
Joe pushed the lead back to seven after he made a pair of free throws. The Bobcats scored their final points when Shead nailed a three-pointer and Sule added a layup to make the final score 73-70.
 
The Bobcats return home to host Howard Payne on Dec. 29 before opening their Sun Belt Conference schedule against Georgia Southern on Jan. 3 and Georgia State on Jan. 5 in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center.