Sixth-ranked Arkansas scored 30 unanswered points to pull away from Mississippi State on Saturday, cruising to a 44-17 home victory that keeps the Razorbacks in contention for the SEC West title.

Arkansas (10-1, 6-1 SEC) travels Friday to LSU for a showdown with the West-leading and top-ranked Tigers. Following the win, the Razorbacks are just a half game back of the Tigers. Arkansas is also tied with Alabama for second in the West, but the Crimson Tide beat the Razorbacks earlier this season. Since that 38-14 loss to Alabama, Arkansas has won seven in a row.

Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6) kept this one close early, pulling within 14-10 on Dylan Favre’s 5-yard touchdown run three minutes into the second quarter.

It was all Arkansas after that. Junior quarterback Tyler Wilson threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Joe Adams with 2:04 left before halftime. Zach Hocker kicked a 44-yard field goal at the end of the half, giving the Razorbacks a 24-10 lead at the break.

Wilson found Chris Gregg for a 2-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, and Hocker connected on field goals of 48 and 27 yards as the Razorbacks pulled away.

Wilson finished 32-of-43 passing for 365 yards and three touchdowns. The Razorbacks held the Bulldogs to 210 yards of total offense.

Mississippi State hosts in-state rival Mississippi on Saturday.