GAME NOTES: As conference play starts to heat up, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will hit the road to try and take down the Florida Gators in an SEC clash at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Saturday.

Mississippi State is coming off a 61-47 demolition at the hands of Tennessee Wednesday. The Bulldogs are an even 7-7 on the season, but own an 0-2 record away from home. MSU has dropped two of its last three games, and is 0-1 in conference action.

Florida, on the other hand, put a stop to a two-game skid with a 72-68 edging of South Carolina in the team's latest outing Wednesday. With the win, Florida increased its record to 8-6 on the season, and is 5-2 at home as it prepares to entertain the Bulldogs.

This rivalry runs deep with history. The Gators hold a 60-49 all-time series lead over the Bulldogs, and are 13-8 under coach Billy Donovan against Mississippi State. Florida is 37-12 at home versus MSU all-time.

Tennessee only shot 35.4 percent from the floor against Mississippi State in Starkville on Wednesday night, but the Volunteers still came away victorious after the Bulldogs hit on just 30.6 percent of their tries from the field. Mississippi State took a hefty 44 attempts from the free-throw line, but was only able to make 24 of them in the 14-point loss. Gavin Ware was the only Bulldogs player to score a double-digit point total in the loss, checking in with 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Craig Sword added nine points before he fouled out of the contest.

It's been a rough season so far offensively for the Bulldogs, who come into Saturday averaging just 60.5 ppg as a team, which ranks last in the SEC. Ware tops the squad in the scoring department with 10.5 ppg, but is followed closely by Fred Thomas (10.4 ppg) and Roquez Johnson (10.2 ppg). Ware is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.1 rpg, adding in 18 blocked shots. He's been one of the few bright spots for the Bulldogs, who allow 58.1 ppg to opponents on 40.6 percent shooting.

Florida trailed South Carolina at halftime on Wednesday night, 34-31, but the Gators used a strong effort in the second half, which included an 18-of-20 mark from the free-throw line, to make a comeback to down the Gamecocks. Dorian Finney-Smith tallied 20 points and seven rebounds to lead Florida in both categories, while Michael Frazier II came off the bench to contribute 17 points. The Gators connected on 42.9 percent of their field goal attempts from the floor in the win.

Florida's scoring offense can be considered middle of the road headed into Saturday, as the team averages 67.3 ppg on 44.2 percent shooting. But the Gators have built more success on a strong defense, allowing just 57.6 ppg to opponents on a mere 39.1 percent shooting touch. Frazier tops the team at 14.3 ppg, while Finney-Smith tallies 13.9 ppg on 50.4 percent shooting. Jon Horford leads Florida in rebounding at 5.7 boards per outing (though he is suspended by the team for this contest), and Kasey Hill has dished out 58 assists to lead the program in 2014-15.

As long as Florida gets some form of decent offensive effort in this one, the Gators should have no issue taking care of business at home against an struggling Mississippi State team. With Frazier, Finney-Smith and Hill all set to do some damage, the Gators look to be in good position.