No. 3 Florida vs No. 22 MSU Game Thread

[Mark Wheeler]

No. 3 Florida takes on No. 22 Mississippi State at 7:00 p.m. in Starkville in a game being played on ESPN2.

Luke Adragna will be providing updates and observations.

LIVE STATS
PREGAME NOTES

 

[Mark Wheeler]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1889374766873846267

 

[Luke Adragna]

BREAKING: Alijah Martin is OUT tonight against Mississippi State.

Martin is missing his second consecutive game after suffering a hip injury falling against the court versus Vanderbilt Feb. 4.

 

[Luke Adragna]

 

[Luke Adragna]

Florida is without Alijah Martin and now Alex Condon after what looked like an ankle sprain. Will be very difficult to play without two of the Gators' biggest keys on both ends of the court.

 

[Luke Adragna]

H1 - 11:45

UF 17
MSU 15

The Gators are not going to survive Mississippi State's speed on offense with Sam Alexis getting significant minutes. He simply isn't conditioned or physical enough for SEC play yet. The Bulldogs are going to take advantage of him all game with P&R.

 

[Luke Adragna]

Watch how quick the Bulldogs' backcourt is getting around defenders in the pick-and-roll look.

This is exactly why Condon is so valuable. Gives Florida size, length and decent quickness for a near 7-footer. Chinyelu isn't quite as quick, and Haugh isn't nearly as tall or big.

 

[Luke Adragna]

H1 - 6:!3

UF 23
MSU 22

Walter Clayton has landed some tough makes so far. He's 3-8 from the field and leading Gator scorers with 8 points. MSU's top scorer, Josh Hubbard, has been a non-factor so far with just 2 points on 1-4 shooting. He came into today's matchup averaging 17.5 PPG.

 

[Luke Adragna]

H1 - 3:44

UF 26
MSU 22

Florida is on a 6-0 run and Mississippi State has made one of its last 12 shots. Neither offense looks great right now.

 

[Luke Adragna]

HALFTIME

MSU 34
UF 33

The Bulldogs enter the half with a one-point lead after a poor offensive performance for the Gators, finishing the half 2-of-10 from the field. Walter Clayton Jr. has jacked up eight threes without starters Alex Condon and Alijah Martin in the game. Searching for anything to land against a Mississippi State squad who doesn't defend the perimeter well.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

With Alijah Martin already ruled out pre-game, and Alex Condon leaving the game early, No. 3 Florida is down 34-33 to No. 22 Mississippi State on the road.

 

[Luke Adragna]

Florida has 10 fewer rebounds heading into the half. By far its worst margin entering a half this season.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Down two starters, Florida has outscored MSU by 20 points since halftime.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Actually 21 points.

 

[Luke Adragna]

H2 - 8:26 |

UF 65
MSU 46

Florida leads by nearly 20 after a 17-0 stretch to begin the half. The Gators have also forced nine turnovers this half against a MSU team that doesn't turn over the ball often.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1889492079237386662

 

[Mark Wheeler]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1889488289746321737

 

[Mark Wheeler]

MSU is on a 12-2 run, but UF is still up by 14 points.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Down two starters, No. 3 Florida went on the road and beat No. 22 Mississippi State 81-68. Five Gators scored in double figures, led by 20 points from Denzel Aberdeen. UF is now 21-3 (8-3) on the season.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1889496904893083928