FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas used an old, familiar formula to beat another top-five team Wednesday night.
No. 5 Texas A&M committed an abundance of turnovers and had trouble slowing the Razorbacks from beyond the 3-point arc in Arkansas' 74-71 win.
The Razorbacks forced 21 turnovers - nine above the Aggies' season average - and converted them into 15 points. Led by sharp-shooters Anthlon Bell and Dusty Hannahs, Arkansas hit eight shots from beyond the arc, including five of their first seven to set the pace during a first half in which the team never trailed.
Texas A&M, which suffered its first conference loss of the year, isn't the first good team to fall victim to the terrible Ts - turnovers and threes - in Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas improved to 7-3 vs. AP top-five teams at the 23-year-old venue. It was the sixth time the Razorbacks won such a game as an unranked team.
Even half-full (10,548 were in attendance), the atmosphere in the arena rocked the visiting Aggies, who committed 13 turnovers before the third media timeout.
"We were different and I think Arkansas had something to do with that," Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. "I think here, this place is the toughest place to play in our league, so you've got to give them credit."
Arkansas got revenge for a 23-point loss to the Aggies from earlier this month. In that game, Texas A&M was the aggressor, forcing 15 turnovers and out-shooting the Razorbacks from beyond the arc.
The defeat was Arkansas' worst of the season. While players said payback felt good, that wasn't at the forefront of their minds entering the game. Instead, it was a three-game losing streak that dropped the Razorbacks to a game below .500 both overall and in league play.
"It's not about payback, it's about getting back on track after losing three in a row," said Moses Kingsley, who scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds. "We knew we had to come here to not only get a win, but protect the home court. We did a good job tonight, if you ask me."
The Razorbacks won a close game after losing a couple of heartbreakers in recent weeks, including in overtime last Saturday at Georgia. Six of the team's 10 losses this year have been by four points or less.
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said the win over the Aggies was a sign of maturity and a step in the right direction.
"We have not played bad basketball," said Anderson, who improved to 76-10 in home games as Arkansas' coach. "We've played pretty good basketball, but we want to play winning basketball. There's a pretty big difference."
The Razorbacks made up the difference Wednesday in their most complete outing of the season.