OXFORD, Miss. (Interstat) — Alex Condon scored 24 points to lead Florida to a 94-75 victory over Mississippi in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The Gators (21-6) led 43-32 at halftime and pulled away in the second half. Thomas Haugh added 20 points and nine rebounds for Florida, while Xaivian Lee contributed 11 points and 10 assists. Malik Dia scored 24 points for the Rebels (11-16) in the loss. Florida shot efficiently from the floor to secure the road win in front of 8,051 fans. The Gators’ offense proved too much for Mississippi, which has now lost three of its last four games.

UNIVERSITY, Miss. (Interstat) — The Florida Gators, powered by a dominant first half and a balanced offensive attack, cruised to a 94-75 victory over the Mississippi Rebels in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The Gators, who improved to 21-6 overall and 11-3 in the SEC, seized control early with a blistering shooting performance and never trailed. Florida built a double-digit lead in the opening minutes and stretched it to 43-32 by halftime, effectively putting the game out of reach for a struggling Rebels squad that fell to 11-16, 3-11. The most critical phase of the game was the opening 15 minutes, where Florida established its offensive efficiency and defensive intensity. The Gators opened the game with a 3-pointer from Thomas Haugh and quickly built a 10-point lead. While Mississippi’s Malik Dia kept the Rebels within striking distance with a series of early baskets, Florida’s offensive machine proved too potent. The Gators shot 57.1% from the field in the first half, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range, while Mississippi managed only 2 of 16 from beyond the arc for the entire game. This stark contrast in perimeter shooting, combined with Florida’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert, allowed the Gators to build a comfortable cushion that Mississippi could not threaten in the second half. Florida’s offense was a model of efficiency, scoring 94 points on just 76 possessions for an offensive rating of 123.0. The Gators shot 32 for 56 from the field and an impressive 11 for 22 from 3-point range. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 19 of 22 attempts. Mississippi, by contrast, posted an offensive rating of just 97.0, shooting 25 for 61 overall and a dismal 2 for 16 from deep, though they were efficient at the line, making 23 of 26. Alex Condon, a 6-foot-11 sophomore from Perth, Australia, led the Gators with 24 points, four rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes, continuing a run of strong performances. Thomas Haugh added 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. The backcourt duo of Xaivian Lee and Urban Klavzar provided crucial support; Lee dished out 10 assists to go with 11 points, while Klavzar scored 15 points, all from 3-point range, making five of his eight attempts from deep. For Mississippi, Malik Dia of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, shouldered the offensive load, scoring 24 points and grabbing six rebounds. Ilias Kamardine added 14 points, but the Rebels’ offense lacked the consistent firepower to match Florida’s output. The Gators committed 17 turnovers to Mississippi’s 11 and were out-assisted 10-7, but their superior shooting and ability to finish possessions overwhelmed those deficiencies. Florida also held a slight edge in rebounding and recorded seven steals and three blocks. The game drew an announced crowd of 8,051. Florida entered as a heavy favorite according to national analytics and covered the pregame spread. The combined score of 169 points sailed over the projected over/under line. The victory extends Florida’s winning streak and solidifies its position near the top of the SEC standings as the regular season enters its final weeks. The Gators will travel to face Texas on Wednesday. Mississippi, mired in a difficult season, will look to regroup at home against LSU on Wednesday.

Preview: Florida Gators at Mississippi Rebels OXFORD, Miss. (Interstat) — The surging, eighth-ranked Florida Gators look to extend their winning streak to eight games when they visit the struggling Mississippi Rebels in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Florida (20-6, 10-3 SEC) enters on a dominant run, having won seven straight by an average margin of 22.3 points. Their most recent victory was a 76-62 home win over South Carolina on Tuesday. The Gators’ offense has been prolific during the streak, scoring 86 or more points in five of those contests. The Rebels (11-15, 2-11), meanwhile, have lost seven consecutive games. They are coming off a narrow 80-77 road loss at Texas A&M on Wednesday. Mississippi has struggled defensively, allowing 90 or more points in three of its last four outings. A key matchup will feature Florida’s versatile forward Alex Condon against Mississippi’s leading scorer, guard AJ Storr. Condon has been instrumental in the Gators’ streak, averaging 15.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the last seven games. He is coming off a 20-point, 4-assist performance against South Carolina and had a 25-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist effort in a win over Alabama on Feb. 1. Storr has been a bright spot for the Rebels during their skid, averaging 18.4 points over the last seven games. He scored 21 points in each of his last two contests, including the loss at Texas A&M. Florida’s balanced attack also features consistent contributions from Rueben Chinyelu, who had 15 points against South Carolina, and Xaivian Lee. Mississippi will need more from forward Malik Dia, who scored 20 points in the midweek loss, to keep pace. The Gators won the season’s first meeting in Gainesville, 98-87, on Jan. 3. Since then, Florida has solidified itself as a conference title contender, while the Rebels have fallen to the bottom of the SEC standings. Saturday’s game tips off at 8:30 p.m. EST. Florida visits Texas next Wednesday, while Mississippi hosts LSU on the same night.