STARKVILLE, Miss. — In the closing moments of Saturday’s game, the free-throw line was the Bulldogs’ strongest weapon and the Gators’ biggest weakness.
Although Florida (16-5, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) has struggled from the charity stripe all season, every previous contest paled in comparison to the 9-of-19 performance that resulted in a 71-64 loss against Mississippi State (11-9, 3-3 SEC) in Starkville, Miss.
The Gators hit just one of their final six free-throw attempts, allowing the Bulldogs to score the game’s last seven points — all from the stripe.
“We shot ourselves in the foot at the free-throw line,” senior forward Chandler Parsons said. “If we just make some shots it would change the whole complexion of the game.”
Donovan said he was most disappointed in Parsons, Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin, who combined to hit just 2 of 10 free throws.
Experienced players are normally the ones coaches want at the line in a game’s closing moments, but not for UF’s senior frontcourt.
“I wish we had an answer for that,” Parsons said. “It’s just something we each individually and collectively as a team have to do a better job of.”
Donovan said he felt the Gators had control of the game when they took a three-point lead with 12:19 remaining.
But UF scored just nine points the rest of the way, missing its final eight field goal attempts on top of its free-throw woes.
“We had a lot of missed opportunities to put points on the board,” Donovan said. “The free-throw line hurt us.”
MSU junior guard Dee Bost outscored the Gators by himself down the stretch, recording 12 points in the game’s last 12 minutes on his way to a game-high 24.
Bost’s ability to carry the Bulldogs was invaluable, as only four players on the Mississippi State roster scored in the game.
“He made a lot of great plays, that’s what great players do,” said junior guard Erving Walker, who led UF with 18 points. “He stepped up for his team.”
MSU jumped out to an early 25-15 lead thanks to senior forward Kodi Augustus, who scored 11 points on 3-of-3 three-point shooting in just over eight minutes.
The Gators responded by pounding the ball inside, scoring 26 first-half points in the paint to enter the halftime break down by just two.
“We were definitely confident,” Walker said. “They weren’t really scoring in the paint that much. We knew that they wouldn’t keep shooting at that same percentage the whole game from three.”
Mississippi State eventually cooled off from beyond the arc, shooting just 3 of 15 from outside after a 5-for-8 start.
The Gators got back into the game with interior scoring and 24 second-chance points but could never overcome their 5-for-21 outside shooting.
Florida’s bench made a strong contribution in the loss, notching 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Sophomore Erik Murphy recorded seven points and two rebounds in just nine minutes, while freshman Will Yeguete grabbed six rebounds in 13 minutes.
“They did great, those younger guys,” Parsons said. “They need to continue to do that.”
Said Donovan: “I thought that those guys really brought a lot of energy.”
