Florida Gators
Eastern Kentucky
Gator Basketball Dominates Eastern Kentucky, 98-49
Thursday, December 23, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Junior guard Matt Walsh scored 23 points to lead Florida basketball to a 98-49 win over Eastern Kentucky, Wednesday night, in front of a crowd of 9,118 fans in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, improving UF's record to 7-2 on the season. Walsh was one of four Gators who reached double-figure scoring during the victory over the Colonels, now 8-2.
The Gators played remarkable basketball tonight, as Florida embarked on its seventh game this season to see 80 or more points on the board. This also marks the third-consecutive game that Florida grabbed 40 plus boards, taking down 51 rebounds, a season high. The team walked away tonight with the biggest margin of victory this season (49), and fans enjoyed the largest lead at the half with the Gators up 32 points.
Freshman Al Horford had his best performance of the season, making his first career double-double. He hit a high of 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Horford also tied for his career high in blocks and steals with two apiece. The freshmen were solid tonight as they added 48 points of UF's 98 and recorded 30 of the Gators' 51 rebounds. The bench was equally as important to Florida as they outscored EKU's bench, 29-21.
Walsh led in scoring tonight and jump started Florida to its early lead in the first. Walsh nailed four consecutive threes out of five in the half to contribute 16 points to the board. Other key players for the Gators tonight were senior David Lee who recorded 12 points and seven rebounds and junior Anthony Roberson who poured in 11 points and two assists for UF.
Florida came out strong and early against the Colonels. Just five minutes into the game, every Florida starter has a steal and the Gators held Eastern Kentucky to just two points. UF answered back to EKU's basket with a 13-0 run that only lasted 3:06. By the end of the first, UF recorded 11 steals with two Gators in double-figure scoring. Florida ended the half with a 10- run, and came back after the break to add four more points while holding the Colonels to none.
From the floor, the Gators ended the game with a 55.7 percent shooting percentage, the sixth time this season the team has shot over 50 percent in a match up. A solid defense was also present tonight in the Orange and Blue as UF held Eastern Kentucky to a 31.8 percent on the floor and a rough 13.3 percent from the arc, the lowest opponent three-point shooting percentage on the season. Florida ended the game with 51 rebounds, 21 assists, 17 steals and nine blocks.
The Gators will return to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 29, as Florida takes on Sam Houston State at 1 p.m. at home. Sunshine network is set to carry the game.
-UF-
