Thursday, March 9, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
WHAT HAPPENED: Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith scored 28 points, including a go-ahead layup with 4.1 seconds in overtime to lead the ninth-seeded Bulldogs to a 69-68 victory over No. 8-seed Florida in Thursday's second-round play of the Southeastern Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The Gators, who trailed by seven with less than two minutes to go in the extra period, had a great look at a potential game-winner, but fifth-year senior guard Myreon Jones, who hit a pair of back-to-back 3s late in regulation to force OT, was just a hair long on an open 3-ball as the horn sounded. The Bulldogs, fighting for their NCAA Tournament bubble life, made five of six shots in the extra period, with Smith scoring seven of his teams 12 in the extra five minutes. Florida, though, got a chance to steal the game late courtesy of two loud MSU turnovers in the final 30 seconds, with backup wingNiels Lane putting in a layup on a dish from Jones with 11.8 seconds to go for a 68-67 lead that capped a stunning 8-1 run that started with 1:45 to go in OT. UF just needed one defensive stop, but guard Dashawn Smith dribbled through an open floor, into the paint and instead of throwing up a shot tossed the ball to Smith, mostly uncovered under the basket, for what turned out to be the game winner. The Gators, who trailed by 14 in the first half, shot 40.3 percent for the game, and were led by freshman guard Riley Kugel, who tallied a ninth straight game of double-digit scoring with 14 points, but hit just four of 13 shots and two of eight attempts from 3. UF also got 11 points from both Jones and backup wing Kowacie Reeves. Smith, meanwhile was 9-for-19 for the Bulldogs, 10-for-17 from the free-throw line and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Guard Shakeel Moore had 13 points. MSU managed to win its 21st game despite shooting just 39 percent overall and scoring only 21 points in the second period. That's because the Bulldogs smashed the Gators 46-35 on the glass, including 18-9 on the offensive ends on the way to 14 second-chance points. UF didn't help itself by going just 10 of 17 from the free-throw line, but MSU wasn't much better at 17-for-28.
Senior center Jason Jitoboh (33) drops in a first-half jump hook Thursday over Mississippi State forward Cam Matthews.
WHAT IT MEANS: A second straight second-round overtime exit at the SEC Tournament and a second straight Selection Sunday weekend of watching from the couch as teams play for championships and NCAA berths, while waiting on the late Sunday night call from the National Invitational Tournament. When the Gators (16-16) do line up in that likely NIT game (a home first-rounder is expected), they'll do so needing a win to avoid the program's first losing record since 2014-15, the last under Coach Billy Donovan.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Minus three-time All-SEC forwardColin Castleton, the Gators had no chance against the 6-foot-11, 245-pound Smith, who Castleton held to 5-for-15 from the floor and just 12 points in their 61-59 win at Starkville back on Jan. 21.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Just 21 points for the Bulldogs over 20 second-half minutes, but 12 points in the overtime on 83.3 percent from the floor.
