Florida has spent much of its SEC schedule shedding the rep that it acquired during non-conference play as a defense-first, offense-never squad. On Tuesday against Mississippi, the Gators reacquired that rep — then, when they needed scoring punch late, lost it just as quickly.
One thing they didn't lose? The game.
Florida's 77-72 win over the Rebels propels it to 16 wins on the season — matching the Gators' win total from 2014-15 even before Valentine's Day.
Dorian Finney-Smith, as has become predictable of late, carried the Gators in this one. He had 16 points and six rebounds, and was Florida's most reliable scorer all night, no surprise for a senior who's had 16 or more points in eight of his last nine outings.