The Gators opened the season Friday night in Jacksonville.
At the Buzzer: Florida 80, Florida Gulf Coast 59
Friday, November 11, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
The Gators opened the 2016-17 season Friday night with a big second half and win.
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 80, FLORIDA GULF COAST 59
WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators started slowly, but a 15-0 second-half barrage allowed them to pull away from the pesky Eagles in the 2016-17 season-opener Friday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Junior forward Devin Robinson started the night by hitting a couple 3-pointers and went on to finish with 14 points and six rebounds. Junior center John Egbunu, at 6-foot-11, 255 pounds, was a tough cover inside for his mid-major opponents. He went 6-for-11 from the floor (missing a couple dunks) for 13 points and eight boards. Fifth-year senior swingman Canyon Barry, the fifth-year transfer from College of Charleston, had 13 points and six rebounds in his UF debut. The Gators trailed 48-44 with just over 16 minutes remaining when, thanks to some defense, they took off on those 15 straight points to seize control. Sophomore reserve center Kevarrius Hayes blocked a career-high five shots in just 14 minutes on his way to nine points (on 2-for-2 from the floor, 5-for-5 from the line) and five rebounds.
WHAT IT MEANS: Florida won on opening night for the 26th straight time, dating to the 1991-92 season. Always better to start with a victory -- and FGCU is going to be a good team in the Atlantic Sun Conference. UF's last loss to start a season was the first game under Coach Lon Kruger, a 70-61 setback against South Florida on Nov. 24, 1990.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Some of his teammates had numbers that jumped out more in the box score, but if Florida gets the efficient floor game it got from point guard Kasey Hill on nightly basis, the Gators are going to be in good shape. Hill, the senior, finished with 11 points (taking just five shots and making four), plus 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Florida, which finished 323rd out of 346 Division-I teams last season in free-throw shooting, went 21-for-26 from the line. The irony? Barry, who was an 84-percenter last season, missed three of his first four (underhanded, of course).
UP NEXT: UF (1-0) will stay in Jacksonville for the weekend and be at the arena Sunday night to face Mercer. The Bears, out of the Southern Conference, also opened the season Friday night with a game against Brewton-Parker College, an NAIA program from Mount Vernon, Ga.
FLORIDA 80, FLORIDA GULF COAST 59
WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators started slowly, but a 15-0 second-half barrage allowed them to pull away from the pesky Eagles in the 2016-17 season-opener Friday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Junior forward Devin Robinson started the night by hitting a couple 3-pointers and went on to finish with 14 points and six rebounds. Junior center John Egbunu, at 6-foot-11, 255 pounds, was a tough cover inside for his mid-major opponents. He went 6-for-11 from the floor (missing a couple dunks) for 13 points and eight boards. Fifth-year senior swingman Canyon Barry, the fifth-year transfer from College of Charleston, had 13 points and six rebounds in his UF debut. The Gators trailed 48-44 with just over 16 minutes remaining when, thanks to some defense, they took off on those 15 straight points to seize control. Sophomore reserve center Kevarrius Hayes blocked a career-high five shots in just 14 minutes on his way to nine points (on 2-for-2 from the floor, 5-for-5 from the line) and five rebounds.
WHAT IT MEANS: Florida won on opening night for the 26th straight time, dating to the 1991-92 season. Always better to start with a victory -- and FGCU is going to be a good team in the Atlantic Sun Conference. UF's last loss to start a season was the first game under Coach Lon Kruger, a 70-61 setback against South Florida on Nov. 24, 1990.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Some of his teammates had numbers that jumped out more in the box score, but if Florida gets the efficient floor game it got from point guard Kasey Hill on nightly basis, the Gators are going to be in good shape. Hill, the senior, finished with 11 points (taking just five shots and making four), plus 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Florida, which finished 323rd out of 346 Division-I teams last season in free-throw shooting, went 21-for-26 from the line. The irony? Barry, who was an 84-percenter last season, missed three of his first four (underhanded, of course).
UP NEXT: UF (1-0) will stay in Jacksonville for the weekend and be at the arena Sunday night to face Mercer. The Bears, out of the Southern Conference, also opened the season Friday night with a game against Brewton-Parker College, an NAIA program from Mount Vernon, Ga.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballFlorida Women's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference | Samford
Friday, November 14
Florida Volleyball | Jordan Byrd GETS UP for the BLOCK ✋
Thursday, November 13
Florida Men's Basketball | Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh Post Double-Doubles
Thursday, November 13
Florida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Media Availability | Ole Miss
Wednesday, November 12
