Alex Condon netted a season-high 26 points and added seven rebounds and three assists, and fifth-ranked Florida claimed the Southeastern Conference’s regular-season title outright for the first time since 2014 with a 108-74 pasting of Mississippi State on Tuesday night in Gainesville, Fla.
In their home finale, the Gators (24-6, 15-2) played without leading scorer Thomas Haugh but led by 12 at halftime and never let up in their 10th straight win to earn the title solely from No. 16 Alabama, which lost 98-88 at Georgia.
Xaivian Lee registered 19 points, six assists, five boards and four steals before fouling out. Boogie Fland and Urban Klavzar scored 10 apiece.
Rueben Chinyelu had 11 points and 16 rebounds for his 18th double-double of the season, tying a school record, as the Gators reached 90 points for the 15th time this season.
Florida ends the regular season by playing at Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.
A 21 1/2-point underdog in their road finale, the Bulldogs (13-17, 5-12) got 21 points and five assists from Josh Hubbard but lost for the seventh time in nine games.
Jayden Epps posted 14 points and four assists, and Ja’Borri McGhee tallied 12 points.
Mississippi State will host Georgia on Saturday afternoon.
In their first matchup with the reigning national champions, the visitors reeled off seven straight buckets for a 15-8 lead after McGhee’s layup at 14:18. Five points by Hubbard in a little over a minute made it 20-12.
Down 24-14, Florida mounted a strong comeback and moved to within a point after reserve CJ Ingram drilled a pair of deep shots, one from up top, the second from the left corner.
The Gators kept rolling and went on an 18-0 run over a six-minute stretch, ultimately taking a 32-24 lead as they outscored Mississippi State 33-11 as the half closed.
Behind Condon’s 13 points and 54.3% shooting (19 of 35), Florida led 47-35 at the break.
Running the point, Fland sank a 3-pointer at 15:32 of the second half for a 63-45 advantage as the home side gradually increased its lead.
The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 67-56 on Hubbard’s driving layup at 12:51, but they could get no closer as the Gators rolled on to reach triple figures in consecutive wins.
–Field Level Media
