For the first 20 minutes, everything that could go wrong was going wrong for Florida basketball. The Gators were already without Alijah Martin, and then, just 30 seconds into the game, they lost another key player. By halftime, they found themselves trailing Mississippi State on the road.
But in the second half, the Gators showed something about themselves that bodes well for March. They pulled away and secured what ultimately became a convincing victory over the Bulldogs.
Florida Basketball: Grit And Determination
This summer, the Final Destination franchise is releasing a new installment. If you’re unfamiliar with the movies, they revolve around a character having a premonition of a catastrophic disaster that kills everyone. Thanks to this vision, they manage to avoid the initial tragedy and save their friends—at least temporarily.
However, as each movie unfolds, it becomes clear that no one can truly escape fate. One by one, the characters inevitably meet their end.
So when Vegas listed Florida as a 2.5-point underdog, most people scoffed at the line. Then, just 30 seconds into the game, Alex Condon sprained his ankle, and suddenly, a loss in Starkville started to feel very real.
With Martin sidelined for a second straight game, Walter Clayton once again took over, finishing with 18 points. But in a bit of poetic justice, it was Denzel Aberdeen who led the way with 20 points. Aberdeen has seen increased minutes due to injuries in Florida’s lineup—but also because of someone sitting on Mississippi State’s bench. Riley Kugel transferred after last season, and had he stayed in Gainesville, he likely would have taken Aberdeen’s minutes.
With Condon out, Thomas Haugh stepped up with a big performance of his own, contributing 16 points of his own. The Gators proved they’re not reliant on just one player to carry them across the finish line.
If Florida hopes to make a deep run in March Madness, Tuesday’s game was the kind they’ll need to win. The tournament is full of matchups that are tight at halftime but break open in the second half—provided a team stays composed and leans on its depth. In past years, this might have been the kind of game Florida let slip away, but the 2025 edition of Gator basketball seems unshaken by adversity.
With the win, Florida improves to 21-3 on the season. Next up, they’ll host South Carolina this Saturday.