Florida
Miss State
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (03/03/2026) — The Florida Gators secured the outright Southeastern Conference regular-season championship Tuesday night with an emphatic 108-74 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. In a commanding performance in front of 10,967 fans, Florida showcased the offensive firepower that has defined its 10-game winning streak.
How It Happened
Mississippi State started strong, jumping out to a 24-14 lead in the first nine minutes after making 10 of their first 12 shots. However, the Gators quickly extinguished the Bulldogs' hot start. Florida unleashed a massive 18-0 run over the next six minutes, completely flipping the momentum and taking a lead they would never relinquish. The Gators' offense was relentlessly efficient, shooting 54% from the field and dominating inside with a significant rebounding advantage of 23 to 15. They were also incredibly careful with the ball, committing only two turnovers compared to Mississippi State's six.
Turning Point
The game's decisive moment was Florida's overwhelming 18-0 first-half surge. Trailing by 10, the Gators defense clamped down, forcing Mississippi State into 11 consecutive missed shots. During this stretch, seven different Florida players scored, demonstrating a balanced and potent offensive attack. The run, their longest in SEC play this season, erased the early deficit and established a comfortable lead that grew to 47-35 by halftime. Mississippi State never recovered from that offensive onslaught.
Star of the Game
While it was a total team effort with six players scoring in double figures, forward Alex Condon was the standout performer for the Florida Gators. Condon led all scorers with a season-high 26 points, showcasing his dominance in the paint. He was an efficient 12-of-19 from the floor and also contributed seven rebounds. Close behind was senior Xaivian Lee, who added 19 points and dished out a team-high 5 assists on his Senior Night. Rueben Chinyelu controlled the glass, pulling down 8 rebounds to go along with 11 points and 16 rebounds for his 18th double-double of the season.
What It Means
For the Florida Gators, this victory clinches their first outright SEC regular-season title since 2014, securing the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament. The win also marked the 100th career victory for their head coach, who became the fastest to reach the milestone in program history. The Gators are riding a wave of momentum, having scored over 100 points in consecutive conference games for the first time since 1975.
The loss marks a difficult point in the season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Josh Hubbard was a bright spot for Mississippi State, leading the team with 10 points. The Bulldogs will look to regroup in their final game of the regular season before heading to the conference tournament.