Instant Replay: Mississippi State 71, Gators 64
Saturday, January 29, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Scott Carter
The Gators owned a late lead. They had quieted the crowd at Humphrey Coliseum. They looked ready to put some distance between them and the rest of the SEC East on Saturday afternoon at Mississippi State.
But they missed the chance – and a few too many free throws in a 71-64 loss to the Bulldogs.
The game was definitely there for the taking, but the Bulldogs scored the game's final seven points as Florida's cold free-throw shooting proved too much to overcome in the end.
Here is a quick look at the game:
How the game was won: Mississippi State took control down the stretch, closing on a 9-1 run after Erving Walker's running floater gave Florida a 63-62 lead with 5:12 left. The Bulldogs did it from the free-throw line, hitting 7 of 8 at the line to snap a 64-64 tie. Kodi Augustus hit 5 of 6, and Dee Bost hit both of his free throws in the final minutes.
Turning point: While Mississippi State excelled at the free-throw line in the game's decisive stretch, the Gators wilted. Florida finished 1 of 6 at the line in the final five minutes and shot 9 of 19 overall.
Player of the game: Bost scored a game-high 24 points, including two free throws with 26 seconds left that put the Bulldogs up 69-64 and made it a two-possession lead for the Bulldogs.
Stat of the game: Only four Bulldogs scored, led Bost's performance. Augustus and Renardo Sidney added 16 points apiece, and Ravern Johnson finished with 15. Meanwhile, all 10 Gators who played scored. Florida's bench outscored Mississippi State's 17-0.
Gator highlight: The Gators went on a 13-1 run early in the second half to take a 55-52 lead. Walker, who scored a team-high 18 points, hit a three-pointer to put Florida in front 53-52; he then added a pair of free throws for a three-point advantage with 12:19 left.
What it means: The Gators dropped their first SEC road game of the season after wins at Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia. They are still atop the SEC East entering Tuesday night's home game against Vanderbilt despite having their nine-game win streak against SEC West foes snapped.
