STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State was crushed twice by Florida last season, once by 35 points and the other by 25. This time around, the margin was just 11. That represents progress for Mississippi State, which lost 62-51 to No. 3 Florida on Thursday night, but the gap between the Gators and the Bulldogs is still vast. "Our team is growing," Mississippi State coach Rick Ray said. "But weve still got a ways to go." Mississippi State (13-7, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) lost for the first time at home during conference play. Colin Borchert scored 15 and Craig Sword 12 for Mississippi State. Casey Prather scored 16 points, Patric Young added 12 and the Gators used a 16-4 run early in the second half to turn a tight game into a relatively easy victory. Florida has won 12 straight this season and four in a row against the Bulldogs. It was the 12th time this season Florida (18-2, 7-0) held an opponent to 60 points or fewer. "We cant always control the ball going in the basket," Young said. "But we can control our energy on the defensive end." And that energy was intense the entire night. Mississippi State shot a respectable 23 of 54 (42.6 per cent) from the field, but had to work hard on every possession. The Bulldogs briefly took a 31-30 lead early in the second half on Gavin Wares layup, but the Gators responded with a 16-4 run. Mississippi State couldnt muster the energy for a rally. Florida coach Billy Donovan said the key to stopping Mississippi State was keeping them off the free throw line. The Bulldogs had 117 combined free-throw attempts in three SEC home games this season. They were just 1 of 6 on Thursday. "A huge key was if we could defend them off the bounce and not foul," Donovan said. "I thought we did a good job there." Floridas Michael Frazier II had just nine points, but his three 3-pointers helped the Gators keep a comfortable lead throughout most of the second half. The 6-foot-4 sophomore missed his first six 3-point attempts before the last three dropped. The Gators shot 6 of 20 (30 per cent) from 3-point range and 8 of 19 (42.1 per cent) on free throws. Chris Walker, Floridas touted 6-foot-10 freshman forward, is expected to make his college debut on Tuesday against Missouri after being cleared by the NCAA. His arrival will give the Gators some much needed frontcourt depth. But Young was enough on Thursday. The powerful 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior was a consistent presence on both ends of the court, providing timely baskets and post defence. "No disrespect to Mississippi State, but theyre probably not going to win an SEC championship this year," Young said. "We have an opportunity to do that, and we need to play to a championship level." Prather went to the locker room briefly in the first half after an ankle injury, but returned to shoot 7 of 8 from the field. His baseline drive and dunk gave the Gators a 55-42 lead with 5 minutes left that ended any remaining doubt. Mississippi State had an 11-1 record at Humphrey Coliseum coming into Thursdays game and was tough once again on its home floor. Tyson Cunningham made an off-balance 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to spark an 8-0 run at the end of the first half, and I.J. Readys layup a few seconds before the buzzer pulled the Bulldogs within 27-26. Florida was coming off a dominant defensive performance in a 67-41 victory over Tennessee on Saturday, and the teams length and athleticism also gave the Bulldogs problems. But the Gators couldnt hit shots -- making just 10 of 27 (37 per cent) from the field in the first half. Nothing was easy. Young hit a couple inside buckets early in the second half and Prathers layup at the rim gave the Gators a 42-32 advantage with 12:05 remaining. Mississippi State had a couple of good moments in the second half, but Floridas superior depth, size and athleticism proved too much to overcome. Ready added 10 points for the Bulldogs. "Offensively we had our problems," Mississippi State coach Rick Ray. "I thought we had a plethora of opportunities in the first half to finish at the rim that we just didnt get done." LeBron James Shoes Outlet . Louis Cardinals a hard-fought victory. The Colorado Rockies intentionally walked Yadier Molina with one out and runners on first and third to load the bases for Kozma. LeBron James Shoes Free Shipping . This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/. Anderson shook off some unusually poor shooting and hit two clutch 3-pointers in overtime that carried the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. LeBron James Shoes Deals . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne. Clearance LeBron James Shoes . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday.DENVER - The Toronto Maple Leafs filed into their locker room after the first period and saw Daniel Winnik walking around and feeling fine.That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs. They rallied to tie the score late but Colorados three shooters scored in the shootout to end a three-game losing streak.He was in the room when we come off the ice, Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. He was walking around, hes fine. Its one of those situations where youre expecting a lot worse and he isnt any worse for wear.Alex Tanguay also scored in regulation and had the decisive goal in the shootout. Nathan MacKinnon had the other shootout goal and Nick Holden scored his first goal of the season.We wanted it tonight. We need to want it more than the other team, said Matt Duchene, who had one of the shootout goals to go with one in regulation. Thats what we did last year. Its been tough at times this year, thats when you really have to be a man and step up and make it happen.Reto Berra had 33 saves through overtime in his first start in six games.Its an important win for us. We had a great game, an outstanding start of the game, coach Patrick Roy said. We were outstanding with 12 shots in the first 10 minutes. Plenty of good chances and looks at the net and their goalie had plenty of good saves.That was overshadowed by Winniks injury suffered when he collided with Avalanche defenceman Jan Hejda near the Colorado blue line. He fell awkwardly on the right side of his head and shoulder and flipped onto his front. He lay motionless while trainers from both teams secured him on a backboard and took him off the ice.The team reported on Twitter that Winnik was alert and moving all of his extremities while being examined by the team doctor. The team said Winnik was not transported to the hospital but he did not return.That was one of the most scary things Ive been a part of and watched live, Toronto defenceman Dion Phaneuf said. Anytime a teammate gets hurt its something that effects you, but when you see the stretcher come out and hes motionless thats something you dont want to go through as a team. Were really happy to see him uup walking around and he seems to be fine.ddddddddddddTyler Bozak scored in regulation and had Torontos only goal in the shootout. Phil Kessel and Richard Panik also scored for the Maple Leafs.Duchene gave Colorado a 3-2 lead with a wraparound goal at 11:45 of the third. Toronto pulled goalie Jonathan Bernier with 1:29 left and Panik scored 16 seconds later on a shot off defenceman Nate Guenins skate to send it to overtime.Bernier finished with 31 saves.It seems like thats our luck this year, Duchene said. We do so much to score and we cant get anything to go, we only get a few to go and they pull the goalie and we have guys in great position and it hits (Guenins skate) and goes in. It was going four feet wide.Winniks injury came immediately after Holden scored 31 seconds into the game to give the Avalanche an early lead for the second straight game.Toronto was able to overcome Winniks injury and get back in the game. Kessel tied it with his seventh of the season when he batted a puck out of the air and past Berra with 3:40 left in the period.The next few shifts youre trying to get back into it, Phaneuf said.Bozak gave Toronto the lead when he scored a power-play goal at 4:43 of the second. Colorado had killed off 29 consecutive penalties before Bozaks tally. Tanguay responded a minute later when he got a stretch pass from Zach Redmond behind the Maple Leafs defence and beat Bernier on a breakaway.Toronto controlled play in the final minutes of the second. The Leafs nearly scored when the puck went under Berra and stopped in the crease but was lost under a pile of bodies.Toronto then held the puck in Colorados zone for nearly two minutes but couldnt score.Toronto lost defenceman Jake Gardiner later in the first when he took a puck off his right leg and missed the rest of the game. Team officials said he suffered a lower body injury.He has a deep bone bruise. Its not broken, Carlyle said. Hit him in the spot with equipment.NOTES: The NHL suspended Toronto RW Carter Ashton for 20 games without pay on Thursday after failing a drug test. Based on his salary, Ashton will forfeit $169,185. ... Avalanche D Brad Stuart (hamstring) will miss at least two weeks. ... Maple Leafs D Morgan Rielly was scratched. ... Colorado RW Daniel Briere was a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game. ' ' '