FAYETTEVILLE — LSU proved to be the remedy for Arkansas’ two-game losing streak for the second time this season.

The Razorbacks pounded the Tigers 87-61 Wednesday night before 16, 212 fans at Walton Arena to bounce back from two road losses last week at No. 2 Tennessee and Mississippi State.

Arkansas also had lost backto-back games to South Carolina and Georgia when the Razorbacks went to LSU and beat the Tigers 68-52 on Jan. 26.

Arkansas (18-7, 7-4 SEC ) swept the Tigers (9-16, 2-9 ) for the first time since 2001 and pulled within a game of West leader Mississippi State, which lost at Ole Miss on Wednesday night.

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“We’re still behind [Mississippi State ], and we understand that,” Arkansas sophomore guard Patrick Beverley said. “We need to do the things necessary to win as many games as possible.”

The Razorbacks’ 26-point final margin over LSU represented their most-lopsided victory in the series by a single point, surpassing an 82-57 victory in 1997.

It was close for about the first eight minutes, with LSU senior guard Garrett Temple hitting 1 of 2 free throws to tie the score at 14-14 with 12: 18 left in the first half.

Arkansas then outscored the Tigers 21-0 in 3: 58 to go ahead 35-14 at the 8: 05 mark of the half.

“That was the game, that fourminute span,” said Butch Pierre, LSU’s interim coach.

The Razorbacks said they initially didn’t realize it was such a decisive run.

“I looked up and it was kind of close,” Beverley said. “Then I looked up again and we’re up 21 points.”

The Razorbacks hit 11 of 14 shots during the run, including 4 three-pointers. Six Arkansas players scored, led by senior forward Sonny Weems’ five points.

“It wasn’t a helpless feeling because we’ve been in that position a lot,” said LSU senior guard Terry Martin, who had a teamhigh 18 points. “We always feel like we can come back. But we got punched in the mouth, and we didn’t punch them back.”

LSU missed six consecutive shots, including five three-point attempts, and had four turnovers while going 4: 18 without scoring. Two of the Tigers’ four turnovers in that span were steals by Beverley.

Tigers sophomore guard Alex Farrer’s layup made it 35-16 with 7: 42 left in the half.

“It was all about defense,” said Arkansas senior guard Gary Ervin, who returned to the starting lineup for the first time in 21 games and matched his season high with 17 points. “When you get stops and get shots in transition, you can get a big lead.”

LSU junior guard Marcus Thornton, who came into the game averaging 19 points per game to rank second in the SEC, played only four minutes because of a hip injury he sustained earlier this week and was 1 of 3 from the field with two points.

“With the crowd and his adrenaline going, he thought he could play, But he was in too much pain,” Pierre said. “Marcus being hurt was a big distraction for our team.”

Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said the Razorbacks caught a break with Thornton’s absence and the support of the home crowd.

“I’m not sure we’re that much better than LSU,” Pelphrey said. “But we did play well.”

The Razorbacks pushed their lead to its largest of the half, 49-24, on Beverley’s three-point basket at the 2: 20 mark.

That was the ninth consecutive made three-point attempt by Arkansas before the streak ended with a miss by senior forward Vincent Hunter in the half’s final minute.

The Razorbacks led 51-28 the half after shooting 58. 8 percent from the field (20 of 34 ), including 9 of 13 on three-pointers.

“I guess we could have played better,” Martin said. “But with the shots they were hitting, it would have been hard for anybody to beat them tonight.”

Arkansas led by 28 points in the second half and finished the game shooting 52. 4 percent from the field (33 of 63 ) with a seasonhigh 11 three-point baskets in 23 attempts.

Senior forward Darian Townes added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the Razorbacks.

Weems had 11 points and was limited to 16 minutes because of an ankle injury, but Pelphrey said he should be fine for Saturday’s game at Kentucky.

Sophomore guard Stefan Welsh had 10 points, Hunter had 9, and Beverley had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes while playing with what he called a slight right knee sprain.

“Any time you get balanced scoring like that, it makes a lot easier,” Pelphrey said. “You’re not just relying on one guy.”

Pierre said he was impressed by Arkansas’ guards and big men.

“If they continue to play and grow as a team, they perhaps could have a Final Four team,” Pierre said. “With all the experience they have with six seniors, and playing in big games, they should go deep into the NCAA Tournament.”

Arkansas hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 1999, and Pelphrey hesitated when Pierre’s comments about Final Four potential were relayed to him.

“We aspire for those things to happen, but we’ve played 25 games,” Pelphrey said. “We’ve got to focus on No. 26.”