No. 5 Florida crushes Mississippi State in home finale

Gators clinch SEC title with 34-point victory in final home game of season

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The No. 5 Florida Gators celebrated their first Southeastern Conference title since 2014 with a dominant 108-74 victory over Mississippi State on Tuesday night. Alex Condon scored 26 points and Xaivian Lee added 19 as the Gators pulled away in the second half to secure their 10th consecutive win.

Why it matters

The win clinches the SEC regular-season championship for Florida, their first conference title in eight years. The Gators have been one of the top teams in the country all season and this victory caps off an impressive home schedule as they head into the postseason.

The details

Florida fell behind early but used an 18-0 run to take control of the game. The Gators then pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 34 points. Rueben Chinyelu recorded his 18th double-double of the season, breaking the school record. Mississippi State was led by Josh Hubbard's 21 points, but had no answer for the Gators' offensive onslaught.

  • Florida clinched the SEC regular-season title earlier in the night when Georgia defeated No. 16 Alabama.
  • This was Florida's final home game of the regular season.

The players

Alex Condon

A Florida guard who scored a game-high 26 points in the victory.

Xaivian Lee

A Florida forward who added 19 points to help the Gators pull away.

Rueben Chinyelu

A Florida forward who recorded his 18th double-double of the season, breaking the school record.

Josh Hubbard

The leading scorer for Mississippi State with 21 points in the loss.

Todd Golden

The Florida head coach who earned his 100th win at the school, becoming the fastest to reach that milestone.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Florida will look to carry this momentum into the postseason as they head to Kentucky for their final regular-season game on Saturday.

The takeaway

The Gators' dominant performance in their home finale showcases their status as one of the top teams in the country and a legitimate contender for the NCAA championship. Their ability to overcome an early deficit and pull away for a 34-point victory is an impressive feat that should have them primed for a deep postseason run.