Mississippi State Bulldogs Crushed by No. 5 Florida, 108-74

Despite a fast start, the Bulldogs were dominated in the SEC matchup.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Despite jumping out to an early 24-14 lead, the Mississippi State Bulldogs were overwhelmed by the No. 5 Florida Gators, losing 108-74 on the road. The loss dropped Mississippi State to 13-17 overall and 5-12 in SEC play, while Florida improved to 23-6 and clinched the SEC regular season championship.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the disparity between the struggling Mississippi State team and the powerhouse Florida squad, which is gearing up for another deep postseason run. The lopsided result raises questions about Mississippi State's ability to compete with the top teams in the SEC.

The details

Mississippi State raced out to a 24-14 lead midway through the first half, but Florida responded with an 18-0 run to take the lead for good. The Gators dominated the rest of the way, outscoring the Bulldogs 61-39 in the second half. Florida shot 55% from the field and outrebounded Mississippi State 53-26, including 21 offensive boards.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • Mississippi State closes out the regular season on Saturday, March 8, 2026 when they host Georgia.

The players

Chris Jans

The head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Josh Hubbard

The leading scorer for Mississippi State with 21 points.

Alex Condon

The leading scorer for Florida with 26 points.

Rueben Chinyelu

Recorded a double-double of 11 points and 16 rebounds for Florida.

Boogie Fland

Scored 10 points for Florida.

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What they’re saying

“We got whipped and the final score was the final score. Not happy about the end result and not happy about it getting away from us.”

— Chris Jans, Head Coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs (on3.com)

“They are a good basketball team. Heck of a program and gearing up to make another run. We knew it was a great challenge but what a great opportunity.”

— Chris Jans, Head Coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs (on3.com)

What’s next

Mississippi State will look to rebound when they host Georgia on Saturday, March 8, 2026. The Bulldogs will be seeking to end the regular season on a high note before the SEC Tournament.

The takeaway

This lopsided defeat underscores the gap between Mississippi State and the top teams in the SEC. The Bulldogs will need to make significant improvements in the offseason to be able to compete with powerhouses like Florida on a consistent basis.