At the Buzzer: Florida 68, Arkansas 61 (Instant Analysis)
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 68, ARKANSAS 61
WHAT HAPPENED: Junior point guard Kasey Hill scored 18 points and dished five assists, while senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith scored all 13 of his points in the second half to go with nine rebounds, as the No. 8-seed Gators held off the ninth-seeded Razorbacks in second-round play of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. After the Hogs, led by guard Dusty Hannahs' 33 points, rallied from an 11-point second half deficit to cut the lead to one, Hill attacked for a reverse layup with 52.5 seconds left. A UF defensive stop led to two free throws from Finney-Smith with 26.8 left that made it a five-point game. Yet another stop turned into a run-out dunk by Devin Robinson to ice the game.
WHAT IT MEANS: In advancing into the tournament quarterfinals, the Gators' hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth also remain alive. And, for now, 19 wins looks better than 18 -- but 20 (or more) would be a nice, round number that could get the selection committee's attention, given UF's high marks for scheduling.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: UF sophomore center John Egbunu played 24 minutes despite tearing a ligament in his right thumb (his shooting hand) at practice Tuesday. How much Egbunu, the 6-foot-11, 255-pounder, was going to play was in doubt heading into the game, but he used the hand well enough to score eight points, making all three of his field goals and two of three free throws, plus grab nine rebounds while bodying up against his Arkansas counterpart, 6-9, 230-pound center Moses Kingsley (10 points, 14 rebounds). Egbunu shared time inside with 6-9 freshman Kevarrius Hayes, who had three points and six rebounds in 15 minutes.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Razorbacks came into the game ranked No. 1 in the SEC in 3-point shooting at 40.2 percent, but the Gators were hellbent from letting the Hogs get off from deep. UF overplayed Hannahs, ran him off the line and forced him into hard drives. Arkansas finished just 2-for-12 from deep
UP NEXT: Florida (19-13) gets SEC regular-season co-champion Texas A&M (24-7) in the tournament quarterfinals Friday at 1 p.m. (ET). The Aggies defeated the Gators 71-68 at College Station in their lone meeting back on Jan. 12. In that one, UF went just 4-for-12 from the free-throw line, compared to A&M's 20-for-30.
FLORIDA 68, ARKANSAS 61
WHAT HAPPENED: Junior point guard Kasey Hill scored 18 points and dished five assists, while senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith scored all 13 of his points in the second half to go with nine rebounds, as the No. 8-seed Gators held off the ninth-seeded Razorbacks in second-round play of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. After the Hogs, led by guard Dusty Hannahs' 33 points, rallied from an 11-point second half deficit to cut the lead to one, Hill attacked for a reverse layup with 52.5 seconds left. A UF defensive stop led to two free throws from Finney-Smith with 26.8 left that made it a five-point game. Yet another stop turned into a run-out dunk by Devin Robinson to ice the game.
WHAT IT MEANS: In advancing into the tournament quarterfinals, the Gators' hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth also remain alive. And, for now, 19 wins looks better than 18 -- but 20 (or more) would be a nice, round number that could get the selection committee's attention, given UF's high marks for scheduling.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: UF sophomore center John Egbunu played 24 minutes despite tearing a ligament in his right thumb (his shooting hand) at practice Tuesday. How much Egbunu, the 6-foot-11, 255-pounder, was going to play was in doubt heading into the game, but he used the hand well enough to score eight points, making all three of his field goals and two of three free throws, plus grab nine rebounds while bodying up against his Arkansas counterpart, 6-9, 230-pound center Moses Kingsley (10 points, 14 rebounds). Egbunu shared time inside with 6-9 freshman Kevarrius Hayes, who had three points and six rebounds in 15 minutes.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Razorbacks came into the game ranked No. 1 in the SEC in 3-point shooting at 40.2 percent, but the Gators were hellbent from letting the Hogs get off from deep. UF overplayed Hannahs, ran him off the line and forced him into hard drives. Arkansas finished just 2-for-12 from deep
UP NEXT: Florida (19-13) gets SEC regular-season co-champion Texas A&M (24-7) in the tournament quarterfinals Friday at 1 p.m. (ET). The Aggies defeated the Gators 71-68 at College Station in their lone meeting back on Jan. 12. In that one, UF went just 4-for-12 from the free-throw line, compared to A&M's 20-for-30.
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