Hoops: MSU 70, Arkansas 56

Quite an impressive win for Mississippi State – at Bud Walton Arena, in front of nearly 19,000 fans. And it was orchestrated beautifully by freshman point guard Dee Bost, who had 17 points and five assists. Bost has scored 35 points over his last two games and seems to be getting very comfortable with this small lineup; and he played pretty tough defense, too, holding Courtney Fortson to five points, 10 below his season average.

Barry Stewart had 17 points as well, and Jarvis Varnado had 16 for State.

Anyway, some quotes from tonight’s postgame, starting with MSU coach Rick Stansbury:

• On his young team: “I’ve brought a lot more experienced teams up here than this team, a lot bigger teams. But I don’t think I’ve ever brought a team up in here that played in this building and kept their composure for 40 minutes like this team did.”

• On Bost: “He stepped up and played huge second half. His grittiness and toughness showed, and it’s got to show on the road.”

• More on Bost: “I thought he did a great job keeping Fortson out of the lane all night long. I think he’s as good as there is in this league getting into the lane.”

• On Kodi Augustus getting some playing time: “There’s no reason I put a guy in the game. Everybody gets in the game if I want to put them in the game. He got into the game. There’s no reason why.”

Now, from Bost:

• On playing in this environment: “As a freshman, it was tough, but I fed off the crowd.”

• On the team’s shooting: “We penetrated and created for each other; everybody created for each other. I believe that Stew, Ray (Ravern Johnson) and Phil Turner stepped up and hit some big shots, and Jarvis, he got wide open and hit some good shots.”

Now, from Stewart:

• On Fortson vs. Bost: “(Fortson’s) a good guard, and to be a freshman he’s really good. So I give credit to my point guard, Dee Bost, he kept him contained for most of the game.”

• On Bost: “I think by far it’s the best defensively he’s played.”