At the Buzzer: Vanderbilt 60, Florida 59 (Instant Analysis)
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
VANDERBILT 60, FLORIDA 59
WHAT HAPPENED: Just three days after putting together their best first half of the season, the Gators clanged away to their worst half in years -- just 19 points -- and were unable to overcome from such a poor start Tuesday night in losing to the Commodoes at Memorial Gym. UF went a horrid 7-for-33 in the first half, including 0-for-10 from the 3-point arc, and trailed 30-19 at the break. The Gators came out hot in the second half and closed what grew to a 14-point Vandy margin to four with just under 10 minutes left, but then missed 12 of the next 13 field-goal attempts. They got it back to two with 7.1 seconds left, but Commodores guard Wade Baldwin IV hit a couple free throws to put the game away. Baldwin finished with 24 points and four assists, while 7-foot center Damien Jones had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Florida was led by freshman guard KeVaughn Allen and junior guard Kasey Hill, both with 16 points, while senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who went for 12 points and 14 rebounds. Allen scored 14 of his points in the final two minutes.
WHAT IT MEANS: Florida's three-game winning streak in the SEC, its longest since the start of the 2015 league schedule, is over. Also, the Gators fell to 2-5 on the road, with their only wins coming at Navy and Ole Miss. UF has now lost three of its last four at Vandy.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: UF junior forward Justin Leon, the team's top 3-point shooter by percentage (.455), was forced from the game with a concussion in its early minutes after taking an inadvertant forearm to the head. Leon stayed prone on the floor for a couple minutes before being helped to the locker room and never returned to the bench..
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Got to go with those 19 first-half points, especially on the heels of bombing Auburn for 53 first-half points Saturday. Then again, it's hard to score when you're going 0-for-10 from the 3-point line and shoot just 21.2 percent for a period.
UP NEXT: If the Gators (13-7, 5-3) are to start another winning streak, the next opportunity comes Saturday at home against No. 9 West Virginia (17-3) in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The game, set for a noon tipoff at the O'Connell Center, is already a sellout. The Mountaineers defeated Kansas State 70-55 Tuesday night.
VANDERBILT 60, FLORIDA 59
WHAT HAPPENED: Just three days after putting together their best first half of the season, the Gators clanged away to their worst half in years -- just 19 points -- and were unable to overcome from such a poor start Tuesday night in losing to the Commodoes at Memorial Gym. UF went a horrid 7-for-33 in the first half, including 0-for-10 from the 3-point arc, and trailed 30-19 at the break. The Gators came out hot in the second half and closed what grew to a 14-point Vandy margin to four with just under 10 minutes left, but then missed 12 of the next 13 field-goal attempts. They got it back to two with 7.1 seconds left, but Commodores guard Wade Baldwin IV hit a couple free throws to put the game away. Baldwin finished with 24 points and four assists, while 7-foot center Damien Jones had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Florida was led by freshman guard KeVaughn Allen and junior guard Kasey Hill, both with 16 points, while senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who went for 12 points and 14 rebounds. Allen scored 14 of his points in the final two minutes.
WHAT IT MEANS: Florida's three-game winning streak in the SEC, its longest since the start of the 2015 league schedule, is over. Also, the Gators fell to 2-5 on the road, with their only wins coming at Navy and Ole Miss. UF has now lost three of its last four at Vandy.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: UF junior forward Justin Leon, the team's top 3-point shooter by percentage (.455), was forced from the game with a concussion in its early minutes after taking an inadvertant forearm to the head. Leon stayed prone on the floor for a couple minutes before being helped to the locker room and never returned to the bench..
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Got to go with those 19 first-half points, especially on the heels of bombing Auburn for 53 first-half points Saturday. Then again, it's hard to score when you're going 0-for-10 from the 3-point line and shoot just 21.2 percent for a period.
UP NEXT: If the Gators (13-7, 5-3) are to start another winning streak, the next opportunity comes Saturday at home against No. 9 West Virginia (17-3) in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The game, set for a noon tipoff at the O'Connell Center, is already a sellout. The Mountaineers defeated Kansas State 70-55 Tuesday night.
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