Three Takeaways from the Bulldogs' 69-68 Overtime Win Against the Gators

Mississippi State secured a slick, 69-68 win against the Florida Gators in overtime.

The Mississippi State Basketball team went into the second round of the SEC Tournament to battle the University of Florida on Thursday for a chance to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament and got the outcome they were after.

The Bulldogs fought hard and walked away with a 69-68 win over the Gators in overtime. Here's a look into just three takeaways from the successful showdown.

1.Tolu Smith remains unstoppable.

It was obvious throughout the back-and-forth battle that the Bulldogs were not giving up at any point, and forward Tolu Smith was able to set the tone.

Smith had one thing on his mind – winning, and he did not let the Bulldogs down.

With 28 points against UF, Smith was able to accomplish the highest points scored thus far in his career. He also snagged a total of 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double this season.

Just as he has in the past, Smith was able to come in clutch when the Bulldogs needed it most. Some 19 of his 28 career-high and game-high points were put up in the latter half of the game.

However, the deal was not sealed as the Bulldogs were forced into overtime with the score at a standoff, 57-57.

Smith, with about 10 seconds left in overtime, swept in with a go-ahead layup to secure the victory for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

2. The first half left the Bulldogs with high hopes

Th Bulldogs felt the heavy pressure of needing to secure the win against the Gators, and they came out of the gates ready to prove their dominance. Early in the game, Mississippi State was able to snag the lead which splashed a glimmer of hope into the hearts of the players and fans.

Standout guard Shakeel Moore was putting up points left and right. He secured a total of 12 points within the first half and went 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

With a strong offensive stride, the Bulldogs were able to hold onto the lead throughout the first half. Before halftime, the Gators trailed by 10, but the Bulldogs still had another half to prove.

The score slipped from the hands of the Bulldogs as the second half progressed. However, State was not ready to throw in the towel, and the game flowed into OT.

3. Will this secure the Bulldogs a spot in the Big Dance?

While the Bulldogs locked down the win against the Gators on Thursday, there are bigger fish in the sea and the Bulldogs will need to tighten up if they hope to secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Mississippi State looks take on No.1-seed Alabama on Friday, who will be wanting a redemption from their recent loss against Texas A&M.

If the State can pull off a win against the Tide, the Sunday Selection will be much more promising for the Bulldogs. Until then, the Bulldogs will be waiting with anticipation for this Sunday.