At the Buzzer: Florida 68, LSU 62 (Instant Analysis)

AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 68, LSU 62

WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore center John Egbunu scored six of his 13 points in the final 2:08, including a 4-for-4 showing from the free-throw line after missing five of his first six, as the Gators held off the Tigers and superstar forward Ben Simmons for the first signature victory of the Coach Mike White era. Dorian Finney-Smith had 14 points for UF, as did junior forward Justin Leon, who also had nine rebounds in his third straight start. Simmons, the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft next June, finished with 28 points, 17 rebounds and four assists, but also had eight turnovers in the second half against a Gators defense that smothered the superstar and his Tigers teammates the entire game in limiting LSU to just 35.7-percent shooting and 3-for-20 from 3-point range.

WHAT IT MEANS: That the Gators are an inconsistent bunch when it comes to energy and effort. Look for White to make a point of how those two traits carried his team against the Tigers, yet were totally absent in Wednesday night's eyesore of a loss at Tennessee against a team far less talented than this LSU one. Maybe this can be a reference point, but that will be left to the players.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Leon, the junior college transfer from Arkansas, tallied career-high points for the second straight game -- and rained in two of UF's three 3s along the way -- and got five of his nine rebounds on the offensive end, including a trio early in the game to help set the tone. His minutes were mega-minutes while Finney-Smith was in the locker room getting four stiches above his upper lip in the second half. Leon never steps on the floor minus his energy.

STAGGERING STATISTIC: Florida finished 17-for-30 from the free-throw line. That's 56.7 percent. But the Gators, the worst free-throw shooting team in the SEC coming (.620), went 9-for-10 from the stripe over the final six minutes. Someone, anyone, try figuring that out.

UP NEXT: The Gators (10-5, 2-1) are on the road twice next week, with the first stop Tuesday night at Texas A&M (13-2, 3-0), which won 92-88 at Tennessee earlier Saturday, followed by a trip to Mississippi next weekend.

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At the Buzzer: Florida 68, LSU 62 (Instant Analysis)

Players Mentioned

John Egbunu

Dorian Finney-Smith

Justin Leon

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