At the Buzzer: No. 15 Florida 114, Auburn 95 (Instant Breakdown)
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
The Gators ran the Tigers out of their gym in the second half.
AT THE BUZZER
No. 15 FLORIDA 114, AUBURN 95
WHAT HAPPENED: Fifth-year senior forward Canyon Barry came off the bench to pour in a season-high 30 points and lead an offensive barrage for the No. 15 Gators, who toyed with the Tigers before running them out of Auburn Arena for a seventh straight win Tuesday night behind a Southeastern Conference-record number of points. The victory, however, may have proved costly after fourth-year junior center John Egbunu suffered a first-half injury to his left knee and had to be helped off the floor. His status will be reevaluated back in Gainesville. Barry hit eight of 17 field-goal tries, including a trio of 3s, and was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, with his school-record run of consecutive made free throws halted at 41. Barry was one of seven Gators to hit double-figure scoring who shot a sizzling 56 percent for the game and made seven of nine 3-balls after halftime. Senior point guard Kasey Hill had his second double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 12 assists. Junior forward Devin Robinson had 14 points and six rebounds, while sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen went for 17 points. Auburn made the game an up-and-down affair early, but once the Gators started heating up from the 3-point line the game soon got out of hand. The score was tied at 50 at halftime and Florida scored the period's first nine points, hit seven of its first eight 3-point shots in the period and rocketed to a 19-point lead and never looked backed.
WHAT IT MEANS: UF won another road game it was favored to win. Overall, that's seven straight victories, which matches the longest winning streak of the season and keeps the Gators in a tie atop of the SEC standings with Kentucky, which defeated Tennessee at home Tuesday. South Carolina, which gets Arkansas at home Wednesday, remains a half-game back.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As good as it was to come away with another road win, the injury to Egbunu is now the story to follow. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center was coming off his best game of the season against Texas A&M (10 points, 11 rebounds) and had 10 points on 3-for-3 shooting and four rebounds in just eight minutes before going down with the injury. At halftime, UF's training staff ruled him out for the rest of the game. How much more action he'll miss will have a big bearing on how the Gators' finish the season, given their lack of depth in the post.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: It was no secret that Auburn was a poor defensive team -- the Tigers ranked next-to-last in the SEC in points allowed -- but who'd have thought the Gators would come in and hang 114 points on the board? It was the most ever scored by a UF basketball team in a conference game. It was the seventh time this season an opponent had scored at least 90 points against the Tigers, but the first time they'd surrendered 100. For what it's worth, it was the most points the Florida defense had given up all season -- and the Gators won by 19. It was the first time in two seasons Auburn gave up 100 points.
UP NEXT: Florida (21-5, 11-2) is back on the road this weekend when it takes on Mississippi State (14-10, 5-7) Saturday at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs, who are at Georgia Tuesday night, began the day tied with Auburn, Georgia and three other teams for eighth place in the SEC standings. Like UF's game at Auburn, it'll mark the first trip to Starkville in three years.
No. 15 FLORIDA 114, AUBURN 95
WHAT HAPPENED: Fifth-year senior forward Canyon Barry came off the bench to pour in a season-high 30 points and lead an offensive barrage for the No. 15 Gators, who toyed with the Tigers before running them out of Auburn Arena for a seventh straight win Tuesday night behind a Southeastern Conference-record number of points. The victory, however, may have proved costly after fourth-year junior center John Egbunu suffered a first-half injury to his left knee and had to be helped off the floor. His status will be reevaluated back in Gainesville. Barry hit eight of 17 field-goal tries, including a trio of 3s, and was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, with his school-record run of consecutive made free throws halted at 41. Barry was one of seven Gators to hit double-figure scoring who shot a sizzling 56 percent for the game and made seven of nine 3-balls after halftime. Senior point guard Kasey Hill had his second double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 12 assists. Junior forward Devin Robinson had 14 points and six rebounds, while sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen went for 17 points. Auburn made the game an up-and-down affair early, but once the Gators started heating up from the 3-point line the game soon got out of hand. The score was tied at 50 at halftime and Florida scored the period's first nine points, hit seven of its first eight 3-point shots in the period and rocketed to a 19-point lead and never looked backed.
WHAT IT MEANS: UF won another road game it was favored to win. Overall, that's seven straight victories, which matches the longest winning streak of the season and keeps the Gators in a tie atop of the SEC standings with Kentucky, which defeated Tennessee at home Tuesday. South Carolina, which gets Arkansas at home Wednesday, remains a half-game back.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As good as it was to come away with another road win, the injury to Egbunu is now the story to follow. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center was coming off his best game of the season against Texas A&M (10 points, 11 rebounds) and had 10 points on 3-for-3 shooting and four rebounds in just eight minutes before going down with the injury. At halftime, UF's training staff ruled him out for the rest of the game. How much more action he'll miss will have a big bearing on how the Gators' finish the season, given their lack of depth in the post.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: It was no secret that Auburn was a poor defensive team -- the Tigers ranked next-to-last in the SEC in points allowed -- but who'd have thought the Gators would come in and hang 114 points on the board? It was the most ever scored by a UF basketball team in a conference game. It was the seventh time this season an opponent had scored at least 90 points against the Tigers, but the first time they'd surrendered 100. For what it's worth, it was the most points the Florida defense had given up all season -- and the Gators won by 19. It was the first time in two seasons Auburn gave up 100 points.
UP NEXT: Florida (21-5, 11-2) is back on the road this weekend when it takes on Mississippi State (14-10, 5-7) Saturday at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs, who are at Georgia Tuesday night, began the day tied with Auburn, Georgia and three other teams for eighth place in the SEC standings. Like UF's game at Auburn, it'll mark the first trip to Starkville in three years.
Players Mentioned
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