No. 5 Florida Too Much for Mississippi State in 108-74 Victory

The Bulldogs played well early but couldn't overcome Florida's dominance in the paint and on the glass.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Mississippi State played competitively early on against the No. 5 Florida Gators, but the Gators' efficiency at the rim and rebounding advantage ultimately proved too much as they pulled away for a 108-74 victory. The Bulldogs shot 45% from the field and 35% from three-point range, but were outscored 70-36 in the paint and outrebounded 53-26.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the gap between a solid SEC team like Mississippi State and an elite squad like Florida, which has now won 5 of the last 6 meetings between the two programs. While the Bulldogs showed flashes, they were unable to sustain their early momentum against the Gators' size and talent.

The details

Mississippi State got off to a strong start, hitting 10 of their first 13 shots and taking a 24-14 lead. But Florida responded with a 33-11 run to close the first half and take control of the game. The Bulldogs kept chipping away in the second half but could never get closer than single digits, as the Gators pulled away late to win comfortably.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Gainesville, Florida.

The players

Urban Klavzar

A guard for the Florida Gators.

Jayden Epps

A guard for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Josh Hubbard

A player for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who hit a pull-up three-pointer early in the game.

Quincy Ballard

A player for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who had a dunk during the Bulldogs' early run.

Ja'Borri McGhee

A player for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who scored a layup during the Bulldogs' early run.

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What’s next

Mississippi State will look to end the regular season on a positive note when they play their final game on Saturday.

The takeaway

While Mississippi State showed some fight early on, Florida's size, strength, and efficiency ultimately proved too much for the Bulldogs to overcome. This game highlighted the gap between a solid SEC team and an elite program like the Gators, who have now won 5 of the last 6 meetings between the two schools.