At the Buzzer: Florida 76, Mercer 54 (Instant Analysis)
Sunday, November 13, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
UF played the second of its two games at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Sunday night to open the season.
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 76, MERCER 54
WHAT HAPPENED: UF got off to another slow start on offense -- like in Friday night's defeat of Florida Gulf Coast -- but its defense arrived on time. The Gators held the Bears, out of the Southern Conference, to just 14 first-half points to open up 22-point lead at intermission and run away to a sweep of their two games at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Senior forward Justin Leon had a career-high 17 points and five rebounds, while the forward on the other side, junior Devin Robinson, fell a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards. KeVaughn Allen added 12 points, as the Gators never trailed by less than 15 after halftime. In fact, UF played all 12 of its guys who suited up -- and they all scored.
WHAT IT MEANS: Another victory on a neutral-site. If the Gators can mostly hold serve on their non-conference caravan around the state, those neutral-site points will add up on the RPI slate.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Allen seemed hell-bent to shoot himself back into an offensive rhythm that has seemed to be missing thus far, firing away 12 times and making just three, plus going 2-for-8 from deep. But the sophomore also went 5-for-5 from the line, grabbed three rebounds, dished five assists, while giving a decent effort on the defensive end, with two blocks and two steals.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: UF, the third-worst free-throw shooting team in the Southeastern Conference last season at 64.4 percent, went 24-for-30 from the line against the Bears. That's 80 percent. Throw in the 20-for-26 performance two nights earlier and the Gators are hitting 78.6 percent through two games. Think Mike White will take those numbers?
UP NEXT: The Gators (2-0) barnstorm on. On Thursday, they'll be in Lakeland to take on St. Bonaventure (1-0), which defeated St. Francis in its season opener Saturday night 92-82. The Bonnies return just one starter, but two of their top five scorers from a squad that went 22-9 last season and tied VCU and Dayton for the Atlantic 10 regular-season title, only to be upset in the first round of the league's conference tournament and settle for an NIT berth.
FLORIDA 76, MERCER 54
WHAT HAPPENED: UF got off to another slow start on offense -- like in Friday night's defeat of Florida Gulf Coast -- but its defense arrived on time. The Gators held the Bears, out of the Southern Conference, to just 14 first-half points to open up 22-point lead at intermission and run away to a sweep of their two games at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Senior forward Justin Leon had a career-high 17 points and five rebounds, while the forward on the other side, junior Devin Robinson, fell a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards. KeVaughn Allen added 12 points, as the Gators never trailed by less than 15 after halftime. In fact, UF played all 12 of its guys who suited up -- and they all scored.
WHAT IT MEANS: Another victory on a neutral-site. If the Gators can mostly hold serve on their non-conference caravan around the state, those neutral-site points will add up on the RPI slate.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Allen seemed hell-bent to shoot himself back into an offensive rhythm that has seemed to be missing thus far, firing away 12 times and making just three, plus going 2-for-8 from deep. But the sophomore also went 5-for-5 from the line, grabbed three rebounds, dished five assists, while giving a decent effort on the defensive end, with two blocks and two steals.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: UF, the third-worst free-throw shooting team in the Southeastern Conference last season at 64.4 percent, went 24-for-30 from the line against the Bears. That's 80 percent. Throw in the 20-for-26 performance two nights earlier and the Gators are hitting 78.6 percent through two games. Think Mike White will take those numbers?
UP NEXT: The Gators (2-0) barnstorm on. On Thursday, they'll be in Lakeland to take on St. Bonaventure (1-0), which defeated St. Francis in its season opener Saturday night 92-82. The Bonnies return just one starter, but two of their top five scorers from a squad that went 22-9 last season and tied VCU and Dayton for the Atlantic 10 regular-season title, only to be upset in the first round of the league's conference tournament and settle for an NIT berth.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballFlorida Football | Players Postgame Press Conference | Ole Miss
Sunday, November 16
Florida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Postgame Press Conference | Ole Miss
Sunday, November 16
Florida Cross Country | NCAA South Regional Recap
Saturday, November 15
Florida Women's Basketball | Liv McGill FLEXES for the AND-1 💪
Saturday, November 15
