At the Buzzer: Florida 66, Cincinnati 60 (Instant Analysis)
Saturday, December 9, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Chris Chiozza scored the game's final six points to lead the Gators past the Bearcats.
No. 5 FLORIDA 66, No. 17 CINCINNATI 60
WHAT HAPPENED: Senior point guard Chris Chiozza scored the game's final six points, including two huge free throws with 20.1 seconds to play, as the fifth-ranked Gators broke open a tie game against the No. 17 Bearcats and closed strong for a big win in the Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Florida led by six at halftime, but Cincinnati took a four-point lead with just under eight minutes left before the Gators scored six straight to stem the Bearcats' momentum. The score was knotted at 60 after UC forward Gary Clark hit one of two free throws with 1:32 left. Chiozza then followed with a driving floater in traffic and, after a blocked shot by Jalen Hudson in the Cincinnati halfcourt and then an offensive rebound by Hudson in the UF halfcourt, sank his two free throws to make it a two-possession game. Cincinnati's last-ditch possession ended with a steal by Hudson and run-out layup by Chiozza with 10 seconds left. Florida was led by 21 points from grad-transfer forward Egor Koulechov, plus 17 more from Hudson.
WHAT IT MEANS: Not only did the Gators snap a demoralizing three-game losing skid, but they did so against a very good team -- and ranked one, no less -- that traditionally is known for its toughness and physicality, two traits that were drawn into question in the blowout loss to Florida State five nights ago and Wednesday night defeat against mid-major Loyola Chicago. Had UF lost, it would have been the first time since the 1995-96 season the Gators lost four of their first nine games.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chiozza finished 6-for-10 from the floor, went 1-for-2 from distance, and also had six assists. He was the best player on the floor down the stretch. That said, what about the final minute for Hudson? He had a block, an offensive rebound and steal -- all intangible plays -- to help seal the outcome.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: UF junior shooting guard KeVaughn Allen, the team's scoring leader, first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last year and 1,000-point career scorer in just over two seasons, finished with two points over 26 minutes. He attempted just five field goals, and, as a 91 percent free-throw shooter, missed on his lone trip to the line. Though he spent the last seven-plus minutes on the bench, to his credit, Allen was demonstratively supportive of his teammates down the stretch in the post-game celebration.
UP NEXT: No games for seven days, as UF goes into exam week. The Gators (6-3) will be in action Dec. 16 -- next Saturday -- with their annual trip to Sunrise for the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Classic at the BT&T Center, where they'll face Clemson (8-1), out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game will be the back end of a doubleheader, with Florida State facing Oklahoma State in the first game. The Tigers have won four straight, including a defeat of Ohio State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
