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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." Cheap Nike Air Max 90 .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town. Nike Air Max 90 Outlet . -- Rodney Stuckey scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks for the first time in eight meetings, 92-86 on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapnikeairmax90china.us/ . The 24-year-old right winger has one assist in nine games this season with the Sabres. In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games. Fake Nike Air Max 90 . -- Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after having an operation on a groin muscle. Nike Air Max 90 Sale . As the Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened their main training camp Sunday, Kuale is one of the newcomers brought in to bolster a sagging defence that ranked overall where the Bombers finished 2013, in the CFL cellar with a league high 585 points against.With the Flat season over a month old, it might have escaped the attention of some that the Stobart-sponsored race to be champion jockey actually gets under way this weekend at Newmarket. With the Flat season over a month old, it might have escaped the attention of some that the Stobart-sponsored race to be champion jockey actually gets under way this weekend at Newmarket.Defending champion Silvestre de Sousa is as short as even-money favourite with a couple of bookmakers to retain his crown - but the Brazilian insists he will not be chasing it, believing that if he happens to be in a healthy position later in the season, it will come to him, as it did last year. But whatever happens, having been crowned once, it is something that can never be taken away.I dont think Ive got a point to prove - if it happens again it will happen, Im not going to go chasing it, De Sousa said.I wasnt really chasing it last year. It wasnt until halfway through the season that I realised I stood a chance. You cant say this early you are going to go for it, my main aim at the minute is to stay injury free all season. Ill just see how the first few weeks go and take it from there. The season is shorter now so that might change things, you might get people who wouldnt usually be interested giving it a real go.De Sousa rode nearly 40 more winners than his nearest pursuer last year, but only four of his 132 successes came in Group company and two of those were on the same horse, David Elsworths Arabian Queen.She caused one of the shocks of the season when beating Horse of the Year Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International at York.My main aim for the season is to pick up a few Group winners along the way, said De Sousa.The highlight last year was Arabian Queen, without a doubt. The Juddmonte is such a high-profile race and even if Golden Horn wasnt in it, there were still horses like The Grey Gatsby in there. To beat Golden Horn, who had already won a Derby and Eclipse and then went on to win an Arc, was a huge thrill.I dont think she has anything to prove, shes a very nice filly and definitely deserves another year, she was only three last year. David thinks shell be at her best over 10 furlongs or a mile and a half. Her dam (Barshiba) was very good and shes by Dubawi and his just get better with age.Other than her, Ill just be picking up bits and pieces along the way, Ive no outstanding horses to look forward to.It is well known that a weighing room is not a place to be big headed - you would soon be brought back down to earth with a bump - but De Sousa certainly does not strike as someone who would let success alter him.ddddddddddddve not noticed a difference with the way the lads treat me in the weighing room and I wouldnt expect them to, they certainly wouldnt let it go to my head, he says.If anything, Im finding it harder than ever to pick up the rides, Im certainly not getting special treatment. Having been away in the winter, Im having to build up all my contacts again.Its so competitive out there, but having had a retainer and been freelance, I can say its easier with a retainer - you have a commitment and you are guaranteed rides. As a freelance you are left picking up the pieces.I have a commitment to Mick Channon and hes started the season in flying form, which is nice. After that, I just get whats left, being champion certainly isnt getting me more rides.Its nice to be champion, dont get me wrong, but it certainly hasnt changed anything - I still have to get up early in the morning and go to work. When I first came over to Europe from Brazil, I hadnt even dreamt about being champion, my first aim was just to get a few rides.When I then moved from Ireland to the north of England things began to pick up. I had a good relationship with David OMeara before he was the David OMeara we know he is today. I had two very good seasons with him.I then had a lot of support from Mark Johnston and I think hes been the biggest influence on my career. Despite having a lot of other jockeys to use, including the Godolphin boys, he still uses me when he can.It may not feel like spring given the snow this week, but the first Classics of the season really signal the beginning of the Flat campaign in earnest and although De Sousa is without a mount in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, he feels his ride in the fillies equivalent, William Knights Robanne, is not without each-way claims.I ride Robanne and shes not without a chance, said De Sousa.She ran really well in the Nell Gwyn and shes entitled to improve a lot for that, not much went right for her but she flew home. I think she deserves her place in the field, a mile should suit and Id be disappointed if she doesnt go close. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports ' ' '