CBSSports.com wire reports
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas first-year coach Mike Anderson promised a frenetic, pressing style when he took over the program in March.
He delivered just that in his first signature win, beating No. 15 Mississippi State 98-88 on Saturday night.
Julysses Nobles scored a career-high 24 points and freshman BJ Young added 24 to help Arkansas open Southeastern Conference play with a win. The victory was the Razorbacks 12-3, 1-0 SEC seventh straight and improved them to 12-0 in Bud Walton Arena this season.
A season-high crowd of 12,200 watched Arkansas earn its first signature win under Anderson, and it came in style. The Razorbacks, who have only made the NCAA Tournament three times since the 2000-01 season, scored a season-high 98 points and scored 23 points off 18 Bulldogs turnovers.
It was a scene similar to the style made famous by Andersons mentor, former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson, who guided the Razorbacks to the 1994 national championship with Anderson as an assistant.