Ready questionable against Arkansas

Mississippi State guard I.J. Ready (15) dribbles the ball downcourt during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. Alabama won in overtime 82-80. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State Coach Ben Howland said he doesn’t know if Bulldogs guard I.J. Ready will play against Arkansas tonight.

Ready, a junior from Little Rock Parkview, is questionable because of an upper back injury, Howland said. If Ready is out, the Bulldogs will be down to eight healthy scholarship players and three walk-ons.

Mississippi State played without Ready at LSU, where the Tigers rallied to win 88-77 last Saturday after the Bulldogs led by 14 points in the first half. “It really hurt us not to have I.J. to be that extra perimeter player that could come in and relieve some pressure on those guys,” Howland said. “I thought we got worn down as the game went on. “So hopefully he’ll be able to play [tonight], but I’m not sure.”

Ready is averaging 10.2 points and 4.7 assists in 29.7 minutes per game this season.