At the Buzzer: No. 17 Florida 71, Texas A&M 62 (Instant Breakdown)
Saturday, February 11, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
The Gators made the plays in the final 10 minutes to come away with a sixth straight win.
AT THE BUZZER
No. 17 FLORIDA 71, Texas A&M 62
WHAT HAPPENED: Senior forward Justin Leon scored 18 points, including 4-for-8 from the 3-point line, with a couple big long balls down the stretch when the game was very much in doubt, helping the No. 17 Gators dispatch of the Aggies for their sixth straight victory in front of a sellout crowd at Exactech Arena. Junior center John Egbunu tallied his first double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against an enormous Aggies frontcourt. Senior forward Canyon Barry came off the bench to score 12 points, along with Chris Chiozza, who had 11 points and five assists in reserve. UF did not play its best game, shooting just 39 percent, but it defended A&M at the same percentage and made good on 19 of 25 free throws.
WHAT IT MEANS: Whatever happens with Kentucky (at Alabama this afternoon) or South Carolina (at Mississippi State tonight), the Gators will maintain their share of first place in the SEC standings. In the big picture, UF now has 20 wins -- including 10 in league, which already is one more than its 2015-16 season -- with three weeks and six games to go in the regular season. The Gators also remain in excellent shape for a top-four seed in the SEC Tournament, which would mean a bye into the quarterfinals. The six-game winning streak is one off the season-best seven.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Barry is now a legitimate contender for SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award -- if not the favorite. Of his 12 points, seven came in the second half. His 3-pointer with just under eight minutes to go pushed the Gators in front by eight. He also made all four of his free throws. His two in the first half tied Taurean Green's school record of 37 straight. He then broke that mark by hitting his 38th and 39th in a row in the second half.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Florida forced A&M into 20 turnovers. If that seems like a lot (and it is) consider the Aggies have had four games where they've committed more, including 25 earlier in the season in a 42-point loss to Kentucky. It might be staggering the Gators did not force more.
UP NEXT: Florida (20-5, 10-2) has a second straight quick weekend-to-weeknight turn-around, with a date at Auburn (16-8, 5-6) Tuesday night. The Tigers, winners of two straight, started the day in a five-way tie for seventh place in the SEC standings. They play at Ole Miss, one of those other four teams in the No. 7 spot, tonight at 6 p.m.
No. 17 FLORIDA 71, Texas A&M 62
WHAT HAPPENED: Senior forward Justin Leon scored 18 points, including 4-for-8 from the 3-point line, with a couple big long balls down the stretch when the game was very much in doubt, helping the No. 17 Gators dispatch of the Aggies for their sixth straight victory in front of a sellout crowd at Exactech Arena. Junior center John Egbunu tallied his first double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against an enormous Aggies frontcourt. Senior forward Canyon Barry came off the bench to score 12 points, along with Chris Chiozza, who had 11 points and five assists in reserve. UF did not play its best game, shooting just 39 percent, but it defended A&M at the same percentage and made good on 19 of 25 free throws.
WHAT IT MEANS: Whatever happens with Kentucky (at Alabama this afternoon) or South Carolina (at Mississippi State tonight), the Gators will maintain their share of first place in the SEC standings. In the big picture, UF now has 20 wins -- including 10 in league, which already is one more than its 2015-16 season -- with three weeks and six games to go in the regular season. The Gators also remain in excellent shape for a top-four seed in the SEC Tournament, which would mean a bye into the quarterfinals. The six-game winning streak is one off the season-best seven.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Barry is now a legitimate contender for SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award -- if not the favorite. Of his 12 points, seven came in the second half. His 3-pointer with just under eight minutes to go pushed the Gators in front by eight. He also made all four of his free throws. His two in the first half tied Taurean Green's school record of 37 straight. He then broke that mark by hitting his 38th and 39th in a row in the second half.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Florida forced A&M into 20 turnovers. If that seems like a lot (and it is) consider the Aggies have had four games where they've committed more, including 25 earlier in the season in a 42-point loss to Kentucky. It might be staggering the Gators did not force more.
UP NEXT: Florida (20-5, 10-2) has a second straight quick weekend-to-weeknight turn-around, with a date at Auburn (16-8, 5-6) Tuesday night. The Tigers, winners of two straight, started the day in a five-way tie for seventh place in the SEC standings. They play at Ole Miss, one of those other four teams in the No. 7 spot, tonight at 6 p.m.
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