Florida’s Alijah Martin Expected to Return Against Mississippi State

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 3 Florida Gators expect guard Alijah Martin to take the court against the 22nd-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs on Tuesday night. Martin missed Saturday’s stunning victory over top-ranked Auburn due to a hip pointer injury.

Florida head coach Todd Golden confirmed during a press conference on Monday that Martin has been progressing positively since the injury. “He’s moving around really well,” Golden said. “I anticipate he’ll play. But it’s a funny little injury and a little pull here and there can bother him. He looked really good yesterday.”

Martin, a senior guard, has been a crucial player for Florida this season, ranking second on the team with an average of 15.3 points per game. He also contributes with 4.9 rebounds and has 58 assists to his credit this season. During his last outing, Martin scored eight points despite suffering the injury in the first half against Auburn on February 4.

Golden expressed admiration for Martin’s resilience, saying, “Alijah had a pretty severe hip pointer injury in the first half. I thought he did a great job in the second half after struggling initially, coming back and playing really well. He had some big baskets and got some important stops for us.”

In Martin’s absence during the game against Auburn, his teammates stepped up significantly. The Gators pulled off a surprising 90-81 victory, with a standout performance from forward Colin Condon, who scored a team-high 19 points and distributed nine assists while shooting 50% from long range. Condon’s efforts earned him the SEC Player of the Week honors, marking his fifth double-double of the season.

Golden praised Condon for his courageous play, stating, “He’s fearless. I think that’s one of the best compliments I can give for a player. No matter the competition or the environment, some guys might struggle with confidence. But I’m so proud of how our group performed at Auburn— we were fearless.”

The Gators are looking forward to their matchup against Mississippi State, slated to begin at 7 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN2. This game could prove pivotal as Florida continues to solidify its position in the Southeastern Conference.