Smith scores career-high 27 to lead Mississippi State 72-69
AP
Jan 16, 2021
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Tolu Smith scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Mississippi State Bulldogs to a 72-69 victory over Florida Gators on Saturday.
The 6-foot-10 Smith was 11-of-13 shooting and posted his fifth double-double this season. His 6-11 frontline partner Abdul Abu added 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting with nine rebounds. Mississippi State (9-5, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) dominated the paint, outscoring the Gators 52-28.
The Bulldogs led 70-60 with just under a minute to go. Florida's Tre Mann scored seven points from there before missing an awkward and contested 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Iverson Molinar added 13 points - he has scored in double figures in all 11 games he has played - and D.J. Stewart Jr. had 11 for the Bulldogs, who made only 1 of 8 3-pointers and 13 of 24 free throws. But their inside scoring and 47-26 rebounding advantage made the difference.
Tyree Appleby made all 11 of his free throws and scored 20 points for the Gators with Colin Castleton adding 16 points and six blocks after blocking seven in his previous game. He is the first SEC player with six-plus blocked shots in consecutive games since LSU's Jordan Mickey in the 2014-2015 season.
Mann scored 14 points for the Gators (6-4, 3-3), who were missing starter Scottie Lewis (11 ppg) for the second straight game because of safety protocols.
The Bulldogs have won three straight over the Gators for the first time since the 1982-83 season.
--
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
FLA
Gators
29
MSST
Bulldogs
32
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Colin Castleton vs. Tolu Smith (Gators gains possession)
19:37
Tre Mann misses two point layup
19:35
Iverson Molinar defensive rebound
19:28
+2
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes two point layup
0-2
19:12
Noah Locke misses two point jump shot
19:10
Iverson Molinar defensive rebound
18:58
Iverson Molinar misses two point jump shot
18:56
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
18:57
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:55
Gators defensive rebound
18:43
Anthony Duruji offensive foul
18:43
Anthony Duruji turnover
18:18
Colin Castleton blocks D.J. Stewart Jr.'s two point layup
18:14
Gators defensive rebound
18:04
Colin Castleton turnover (bad pass)
17:57
D.J. Stewart Jr. turnover (traveling)
17:48
Anthony Duruji misses three point jump shot
17:46
Iverson Molinar defensive rebound
17:41
Jalen Johnson turnover (lost ball)
17:25
Iverson Molinar shooting foul (Tyree Appleby draws the foul)
17:25
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 1 of 2
1-2
17:25
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 2 of 2
2-2
17:00
Iverson Molinar misses two point jump shot
16:58
Tre Mann defensive rebound
16:50
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point layup (Tre Mann assists)
4-2
16:40
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point dunk (Iverson Molinar assists)
4-4
16:28
+2
Anthony Duruji makes two point jump shot (Tre Mann assists)
6-4
16:04
Jalen Johnson misses three point jump shot
16:02
Anthony Duruji defensive rebound
15:47
Colin Castleton misses two point jump shot
15:45
Colin Castleton offensive rebound
15:45
Abdul Ado shooting foul (Colin Castleton draws the foul)
15:45
TV timeout
15:45
+1
Colin Castleton makes regular free throw 1 of 2
7-4
15:45
+1
Colin Castleton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-4
15:24
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point jump shot
8-6
15:25
Anthony Duruji shooting foul (Tolu Smith draws the foul)
15:25
Tolu Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:25
Osayi Osifo defensive rebound
15:12
Tolu Smith blocks Osayi Osifo's two point jump shot
15:10
Deivon Smith defensive rebound
14:48
Deivon Smith turnover (traveling)
14:33
Noah Locke misses three point jump shot
14:31
D.J. Stewart Jr. defensive rebound
14:26
+2
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes two point jump shot
8-8
14:24
Gators 30 second timeout
14:06
Noah Locke misses three point jump shot
14:04
Omar Payne offensive rebound
14:01
Omar Payne turnover (bad pass) (D.J. Stewart Jr. steals)
13:51
Tolu Smith misses two point layup
13:49
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
13:43
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (Deivon Smith assists)
8-10
13:22
+3
Tyree Appleby makes three point jump shot (Noah Locke assists)
11-10
13:00
Quinten Post offensive foul
13:00
Quinten Post turnover
12:48
+2
Omar Payne makes two point dunk (Tre Mann assists)
13-10
12:27
+2
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes two point layup (Cameron Matthews assists)
13-12
12:08
Tre Mann turnover (bad pass) (Deivon Smith steals)
11:59
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses two point layup
11:57
Colin Castleton defensive rebound
11:46
Noah Locke misses three point jump shot
11:44
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
11:34
Deivon Smith misses two point layup
11:32
Colin Castleton defensive rebound
11:18
Tolu Smith blocks Tyree Appleby's two point layup
11:16
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
11:19
Omar Payne shooting foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul)
11:20
TV timeout
11:19
Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:19
Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:19
Omar Payne defensive rebound
10:58
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point jump shot
15-12
10:32
Omar Payne shooting foul (Iverson Molinar draws the foul)
10:32
+1
Iverson Molinar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-13
10:32
+1
Iverson Molinar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-14
10:24
+2
Tre Mann makes two point jump shot
17-14
10:09
Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
10:07
Cameron Matthews offensive rebound
10:00
+2
Cameron Matthews makes two point layup
17-16
9:45
Abdul Ado blocks Osayi Osifo's two point jump shot
9:43
Iverson Molinar defensive rebound
9:36
+2
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes two point jump shot (Iverson Molinar assists)
17-18
9:13
Colin Castleton misses two point jump shot
9:11
Iverson Molinar defensive rebound
9:01
Colin Castleton blocks Iverson Molinar's two point layup
8:59
Cameron Matthews offensive rebound
8:43
Colin Castleton blocks D.J. Stewart Jr.'s two point layup
8:41
Bulldogs offensive rebound
8:38
Cameron Matthews misses two point jump shot
8:38
Gators defensive rebound
8:14
Tre Mann misses two point jump shot
7:39
+2
Iverson Molinar makes two point jump shot
17-20
7:12
Tyree Appleby misses three point jump shot
7:10
D.J. Stewart Jr. defensive rebound
6:46
D.J. Stewart Jr. offensive foul
6:46
D.J. Stewart Jr. turnover
6:19
Colin Castleton turnover (lost ball) (Abdul Ado steals)
6:14
D.J. Stewart Jr. turnover (bad pass)
5:57
Tyree Appleby misses three point jump shot
5:55
Deivon Smith defensive rebound
5:40
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses two point jump shot
5:38
Abdul Ado offensive rebound
5:32
+2
Abdul Ado makes two point layup
17-22
5:22
+3
Samson Ruzhentsev makes three point jump shot (Colin Castleton assists)
20-22
5:00
Tre Mann personal foul
4:44
Iverson Molinar misses two point jump shot
4:42
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
4:40
Colin Castleton blocks Tolu Smith's two point layup
4:38
Samson Ruzhentsev defensive rebound
4:35
+2
Tre Mann makes two point layup
22-22
4:35
D.J. Stewart Jr. shooting foul (Tre Mann draws the foul)
4:35
Tre Mann misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:35
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
4:11
Cameron Matthews misses two point layup
4:09
Abdul Ado offensive rebound
4:05
+2
Abdul Ado makes two point layup
22-24
3:52
Tolu Smith blocks Colin Castleton's two point layup
3:50
Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
3:43
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (Abdul Ado assists)
22-26
3:23
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point jump shot (Tre Mann assists)
24-26
3:23
TV timeout
3:03
Cameron Matthews misses three point jump shot
2:59
Gators defensive rebound
2:32
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point jump shot
26-26
2:19
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (Jalen Johnson assists)
26-28
2:02
+3
Noah Locke makes three point jump shot (Colin Castleton assists)
29-28
1:39
Tyree Appleby personal foul (Iverson Molinar draws the foul)
1:27
+2
Iverson Molinar makes two point jump shot
29-30
0:56
Abdul Ado blocks Colin Castleton's two point jump shot
0:54
Deivon Smith defensive rebound
0:49
Iverson Molinar turnover (lost ball) (Tre Mann steals)
0:35
Samson Ruzhentsev misses two point jump shot
0:33
Deivon Smith defensive rebound
0:28
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:06
+2
Jalen Johnson makes two point jump shot
29-32
0:01
Tre Mann misses three point jump shot
0:00
Bulldogs defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
FLA
Gators
40
MSST
Bulldogs
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:49
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (Iverson Molinar assists)
29-34
19:38
Colin Castleton turnover (traveling)
19:15
+2
Iverson Molinar makes two point jump shot
29-36
18:59
Anthony Duruji misses three point jump shot
18:57
Iverson Molinar defensive rebound
18:47
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (D.J. Stewart Jr. assists)
29-38
18:47
Gators 30 second timeout
18:47
TV timeout
18:27
Tre Mann misses three point jump shot
18:25
Bulldogs defensive rebound
18:22
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (D.J. Stewart Jr. assists)
29-40
18:22
Anthony Duruji shooting foul (Tolu Smith draws the foul)
18:22
Tolu Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:22
Colin Castleton defensive rebound
18:06
Ques Glover misses two point jump shot
18:04
D.J. Stewart Jr. defensive rebound
17:53
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses two point jump shot
17:51
Tyree Appleby defensive rebound
17:45
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point layup (Tyree Appleby assists)
31-40
17:29
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses two point jump shot
17:27
Abdul Ado offensive rebound
17:24
+2
Abdul Ado makes two point dunk
31-42
17:05
+2
Noah Locke makes two point layup
33-42
16:32
Tolu Smith turnover (bad pass) (Noah Locke steals)
16:28
Tyree Appleby turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Johnson steals)
16:20
Quinten Post offensive foul
16:20
Quinten Post turnover
16:12
Colin Castleton blocks Jalen Johnson's two point jump shot
16:12
Bulldogs offensive rebound
16:12
Quinten Post shooting foul (Tyree Appleby draws the foul)
16:12
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 1 of 2
34-42
16:12
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 2 of 2
35-42
15:48
+3
Iverson Molinar makes three point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists)
35-45
15:30
+2
Tyree Appleby makes two point jump shot
37-45
15:30
Deivon Smith shooting foul (Tyree Appleby draws the foul)
15:30
TV timeout
15:30
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 1 of 1
38-45
15:15
Colin Castleton blocks Iverson Molinar's two point layup
15:13
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
15:13
Colin Castleton shooting foul (Tolu Smith draws the foul)
15:13
Tolu Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:56
Tre Mann turnover (bad pass) (D.J. Stewart Jr. steals)
15:13
+1
Tolu Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-46
14:56
Tre Mann turnover (bad pass) (D.J. Stewart Jr. steals)
14:49
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses two point layup
14:47
Deivon Smith offensive rebound
14:46
+2
Deivon Smith makes two point layup
38-48
14:28
+3
Tre Mann makes three point jump shot
41-48
14:10
Iverson Molinar misses two point jump shot
14:08
Colin Castleton defensive rebound
13:57
+2
Tyree Appleby makes two point jump shot
43-48
13:33
Iverson Molinar turnover (traveling)
13:19
Noah Locke misses two point jump shot
13:17
Omar Payne offensive rebound
13:16
Abdul Ado blocks Omar Payne's two point layup
13:14
Abdul Ado defensive rebound
13:00
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:58
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
12:57
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup
43-50
12:32
Samson Ruzhentsev misses three point jump shot
12:30
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
12:09
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (D.J. Stewart Jr. assists)
43-52
11:44
+2
Omar Payne makes two point layup (Tyree Appleby assists)
45-52
11:29
Omar Payne shooting foul (Abdul Ado draws the foul)
11:29
TV timeout
11:29
Abdul Ado misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:11
Tre Mann turnover (bad pass)
11:29
+1
Abdul Ado makes regular free throw 2 of 2
45-53
11:11
Tre Mann turnover (bad pass)
10:58
+2
Abdul Ado makes two point jump shot (Jalen Johnson assists)
45-55
10:44
Deivon Smith personal foul
10:30
Tre Mann misses two point jump shot
10:28
Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
10:20
Deivon Smith turnover (lost ball) (Noah Locke steals)
10:10
+3
Noah Locke makes three point jump shot (Tre Mann assists)
48-55
9:44
Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
9:42
Tre Mann defensive rebound
9:32
+2
Tyree Appleby makes two point layup
50-55
9:04
Tre Mann shooting foul (Tolu Smith draws the foul)
9:04
Tolu Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:04
+1
Tolu Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
50-56
8:45
Tre Mann misses two point jump shot
8:43
Abdul Ado defensive rebound
8:37
D.J. Stewart Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Tre Mann steals)
8:25
Tyree Appleby turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Johnson steals)
8:10
Iverson Molinar misses two point jump shot
8:08
Tyree Appleby defensive rebound
7:59
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point layup
52-56
7:59
Abdul Ado shooting foul (Colin Castleton draws the foul)
7:59
TV timeout
7:59
Colin Castleton misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:59
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
7:45
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:43
Gators defensive rebound
7:19
Tre Mann misses three point jump shot
7:17
D.J. Stewart Jr. defensive rebound
6:57
Jalen Johnson misses three point jump shot
6:55
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
6:51
Colin Castleton shooting foul (Tolu Smith draws the foul)
6:51
+1
Tolu Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-57
6:51
Tolu Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:51
Noah Locke defensive rebound
6:32
Colin Castleton misses two point jump shot
6:30
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
6:16
Iverson Molinar turnover (traveling)
5:49
Tolu Smith personal foul
5:45
Tre Mann misses two point layup
5:43
Abdul Ado defensive rebound
5:43
Colin Castleton personal foul (Abdul Ado draws the foul)
5:43
Iverson Molinar turnover (bad pass)
5:15
Tre Mann misses two point jump shot
5:13
Abdul Ado defensive rebound
5:06
+2
Iverson Molinar makes two point layup
52-59
4:55
Noah Locke misses three point jump shot
4:53
Abdul Ado defensive rebound
4:22
Omar Payne blocks Iverson Molinar's two point layup
4:20
Gators defensive rebound
4:10
Deivon Smith shooting foul (Tyree Appleby draws the foul)
4:10
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-59
4:10
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-59
3:57
+2
Tolu Smith makes two point layup (Deivon Smith assists)
54-61
3:47
Deivon Smith personal foul (Tyree Appleby draws the foul)
3:47
TV timeout
3:47
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-61
3:47
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-61
3:46
Tyree Appleby personal foul (D.J. Stewart Jr. draws the foul)
3:46
+1
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
56-62
3:46
+1
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-63
3:18
Colin Castleton misses two point layup
3:16
Abdul Ado defensive rebound
3:04
Anthony Duruji shooting foul (Tolu Smith draws the foul)
3:04
+1
Tolu Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
56-64
3:04
+1
Tolu Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-65
2:46
Iverson Molinar shooting foul (Tyree Appleby draws the foul)
2:46
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 1 of 2
57-65
2:46
+1
Tyree Appleby makes regular free throw 2 of 2
58-65
2:46
Gators 30 second timeout
2:20
Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
2:18
Tolu Smith offensive rebound
2:01
+2
Deivon Smith makes two point layup
58-67
1:52
Samson Ruzhentsev misses three point jump shot
1:50
Tolu Smith defensive rebound
1:36
+2
Abdul Ado makes two point dunk (Deivon Smith assists)
58-69
1:28
Gators 60 second timeout
1:25
+2
Anthony Duruji makes two point jump shot (Tre Mann assists)
60-69
0:59
Tre Mann personal foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul)
0:59
+1
Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
60-70
0:59
Deivon Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:59
Colin Castleton defensive rebound
0:51
+2
Tre Mann makes two point jump shot
62-70
0:40
Noah Locke personal foul (D.J. Stewart Jr. draws the foul)
0:40
D.J. Stewart Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:40
+1
D.J. Stewart Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-71
0:40
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:35
Tre Mann misses two point jump shot
0:33
Noah Locke offensive rebound
0:27
Noah Locke misses two point jump shot
0:25
Colin Castleton offensive rebound
0:19
+2
Colin Castleton makes two point layup
64-71
0:26
Iverson Molinar turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mann steals)
0:22
+2
Tre Mann makes two point layup
66-71
0:22
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:22
Tre Mann personal foul (Jalen Johnson draws the foul)
