Chris Relf threw for a touchdown and ran for another, Vick Ballard rushed for 103 yards and a score, and No. 23 Mississippi State won its sixth straight game, beating Kentucky 24-17 at home Saturday.

Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, hooking up with Randall Cobb 12 times for 171 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The duo connected twice on third-down conversions to keep the Wildcats' final drive alive, but Hartline threw his third interception of the game on fourth-and-10 from the Missisippi State 20 with 31 seconds left.

The Bulldogs (7-2, 3-2 SEC) built a quick 10-0 lead on Derek DePasquale's 33-yard field goal and Ballard's 54-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and they led 17-10 at halftime.

Hartline's second touchdown pass of the game, a 2-yard toss to Moncell Allen, tied at 17 late in the third quarter, but Relf put Mississippi State back in front with a 4-yard run early in the fourth.

Relf threw for 111 yards on 7-of-17 passing with a touchdown and rushed for 71 yards and a score on 17 carries.

The Wildcats (4-5, 1-5) have lost five of their last six after a 3-0 start.