What Happened

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh nearly recorded a triple-double, while sophomore guard Denzel Aberdeen matched his career-high with 20 points, as the short-handed, third-ranked Florida Gators used a dominant stretch of defense and three-point shooting after halftime to defeat No. 22 Mississippi State, 81–68, in their SEC matchup Tuesday night at Humphrey Coliseum.

Haugh, who had shined off the bench in Saturday’s upset of No. 1 Auburn, delivered another standout performance. He finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and a career-best eight assists in a career-high 37 minutes. His effort was crucial after starting forward Alex Condon, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, suffered an ankle injury just 30 seconds into the game when he landed on the foot of MSU’s RJ Melendez during an inbound play. Condon was taken to the locker room by trainers, leaving Florida without two starters—Condon and fifth-year guard Alijah Martin (hip pointer)—who together average 26 points and 13 rebounds per game.

Condon was later diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain and did not return, though the Gators avoided a more serious setback.

Aberdeen, making his third consecutive start, equaled the 20 points he scored against Texas A&M in last season’s SEC Tournament.

He hit three triples and grabbed four rebounds in a career-high 36 minutes. Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. added 19 points and connected on four threes for the second straight game. Senior guard Will Richard contributed 10 points, including three from deep, while sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu stepped up with 10 points and six rebounds.

Florida, now winners of three straight, shot 46 percent overall and 55 percent in the second half. The Gators went 14-of-36 from beyond the arc (38.9 percent) and dished out 19 assists, giving them 61 over their last three contests.

The opening half was a defensive battle, with both teams shooting 36 percent and Mississippi State holding a 34–33 lead at the break. Florida quickly seized control after halftime. Aberdeen and Richard knocked down threes to spark a 9–0 run that forced a Bulldogs timeout. Out of the break, Clayton and Haugh added threes, and Aberdeen finished a fast-break dunk to cap a 17–0 surge. The Gators pushed the lead to 16 at 50–34, later extending it to 20 and eventually as high as 24, leaving Mississippi State chasing the rest of the way.

Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard paced the Bulldogs with 19 points, while former Gator Riley Kugel added seven. Despite entering with the nation’s No. 19-ranked offense in efficiency, Mississippi State was limited to 41.4 percent shooting, just 25.9 percent from three (7-of-27), and committed 15 turnovers that Florida converted into 20 points.

UF guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) on the attack Tuesday in Starkville.