Florida Crushes Mississippi State
No. 5 Florida closed out their home basketball schedule with a dominant 34-point win over Mississippi State. The Gators' offense and defense are both clicking at the right time as they head into the postseason. Meanwhile, Texas had a rough night, getting soundly defeated by No. 20 Arkansas in Fayetteville to fall to 9-8 in SEC play.
The victory for No. 5 Florida secured the outright 2026 Southeastern Conference championship. The win also marked a significant milestone for head coach Todd Golden, who recorded his 100th career coaching victory, reaching the mark faster than any coach in the university's history. Six Gators scored in double figures in the 108-74 rout of Mississippi State, with forward Alex Condon leading the charge with 26 points. Center Rueben Chinyelu also made history, setting a new program record with his 18th double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 16 rebounds. This offensive explosion marked the second consecutive conference game in which Florida has scored over 100 points. Florida's dominance on the boards was a key factor, as they outrebounded Mississippi State and lead the nation in rebounding margin. The Gators have been on a tear, winning ten straight games. Their final regular-season test will be on the road against Kentucky before they head to the SEC Tournament in Nashville, which begins on March 11. Meanwhile, the loss for Texas against No. 20 Arkansas was a tough one on the road. The Longhorns gave up season highs in points and field goals made to the Razorbacks. Sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis was a bright spot for Texas, scoring a team-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. The 105-85 defeat dropped Texas to 18-12 on the season. The Longhorns will look to bounce back in their regular-season finale at home against Oklahoma. For Arkansas, the victory was a statement in their final home game of the season. Senior forward Trevon Brazile had a career night, leading all scorers with 28 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting. The Razorbacks' offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 58.3% from the field and dominating in fast-break points. The Razorbacks, now 22-8, will finish their regular season on the road against Missouri before turning their attention to the SEC Tournament.
