With junior forward Will Yeguete out for at least the remainder of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his right knee Friday, Florida needed its role players to step up against Mississippi State.
Michael Frazier II and Casey Prather provided just the boost the Gators needed.
The pair combined for 17 points in the first half, helping No. 2 Florida (19-3, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) bury Mississippi State early for an 83-58 victory Saturday in the O’Connell Center.
UF’s win is a bounce back from its 80-69 road loss to Arkansas on Tuesday, which snapped Florida’s 10-game winning streak.
“With Will being out, we had a lot of making up to do,” Prather said. “We rallied together and did the job.”
Said Frazier: “That’s our role on the team — to come and provide energy. Rebound, do the little things. … I think we did that tonight.”
After suffering a high left ankle sprain on Jan. 12 that sidelined him for four games, Prather played his most complete game. In 22 minutes, he recorded 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and pulled down five rebounds.
After coach Billy Donovan said Thursday that Prather was bringing nothing to the table, the junior forward made a statement.
“He pretty much pushed me and challenged me,” Prather said. “I just stepped up to the challenge.”
In his first career start, Frazier scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, grabbed six boards and tallied three assists. The freshman guard drilled 3 of his 5 three-point attempts.
In the game’s first 8:20, Frazier scored 9 points on three attempts from behind the arc and tallied two assists. His three three-pointers came during Florida’s 19-5 run, which gave it a 26-10 lead.
Frazier started in place of junior point guard Scottie Wilbekin, who came off the bench with 17:21 in the first half. Against the Razorbacks on Tuesday, Wilbekin went 5-of-15 shooting, recorded only four assists and turned over the ball three times.
“Coming out of the Arkansas game, [Wilbekin] needed to understand there were things he needed to do for our team,” Donovan said. “I kind of was on him about making some better decisions. … Not even an attitude issue at all, but Thursday did not respond well at all in practice. No energy, no enthusiasm.”
Redshirt senior guard Mike Rosario scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Rosario scored five of Florida’s initial seven points.
Senior forward Erik Murphy added 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting but left the game with 4:19 remaining after tweaking his right ankle. Donovan said after the game that Murphy is fine.
“Nothing,” Donovan said of the extent of Murphy’s injury. “He tripped. … He trips a lot.”
At halftime, Florida led 42-26. The Gators opened the second half on a 10-2 run.
The undermanned Bulldogs (7-15, 2-8 SEC) played six scholarship players and two walk-ons with guard Jalen Steele suspended for violating team rules.
Florida shot 52.5 percent and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Gators tallied 21 assists and committed only eight turnovers to the Bulldogs’ 16.
Mississippi State shot 4 of 9 from beyond the arc in first half but went 42.6 percent from the field for the contest.
UF has two days off before hosting Kentucky (17-6, 8-2 SEC) on Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.
Guard Michael Frazier II (20) drives toward the hoop during Florida’s 77-44 win against Georgia on Jan. 9 in the O’Connell Center.
