Florida guard Teddy Dupay scored a career- high 27 points to lead the Gators to a season- opening 85-70 win over the FSU Seminoles in Tallahassee Friday night.
Florida guard Teddy Dupay scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Gators to a season-opening 85-70 win over Florida State in Tallahassee Friday night.
Dupay scored 20 of his points in the second half. He made five three-pointers and hit on 8-of-9 free throws. Udonis Haslem added 16 points and eight rebounds, while Matt Bonner came off the bench with a career-high 16 points. Dupay's 27 points was the most by a Gator player on opening night since Vernon Maxwell went for 28 vs. Central Florida on November 26, 1985.
The Gators held a slim 37-35 lead at the half, but a trio of three's by Dupay helped the Gators open a 60-51 lead midway through the second half. UF's defense held the FSU scoreless for a stretch 4:38 (9:22 to 4:44 left in the game) and without a field goal for 6:24 (9:22 to 2:58). The Seminoles were 0-for-10 from beyond the arc in the second half.
Florida won for the third straight time against FSU and the fifth straight time in Tallahassee.
Florida State was 37-0 in home openers before suffering the setback to the Gators Friday night. The Seminoles were led in scoring by freshman Micheal Joiner, who scored 18. The Gators' next game will be November 27th when they take on Florida Atlantic in their home opener.
