Florida Gators
Sam Houston State
Gators Pick Up 32-Point Win In NCAA Tourney Rematch
Wednesday, December 29, 2004 | Men's Basketball
The University of Florida men's basketball won its eighth game prior to Jan. 1, for its seventh straight season with a 83-51 win over Sam Houston State at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, on Wednesday afternoon, in front of a crowd of 8,422 fans. UF junior Anthony Roberson led all scorers with 22 points, while Matt Walsh poured in 21 points to help improve the Gators to 8-2 on the season. Senior David Lee notched his second double-double of the season, and the 12th of his career, pulling down 10 boards and contributing 12 points.
Sam Houston State was led by forward Wilder Auguste, who marked 18 points before fouling out with 56 seconds left in the match up. The Gators put together a 9-0 run in the first few minutes of the game after giving up SHSU's first basket. The Bearkats didn't score again from the field until the 13:40 mark. Walsh then took UF on a 8-0 run where he nailed two consecutive threes and two free throws in just under a minute. Sam Houston State tightened up its defense and held Florida scoreless for nearly 3:30 minutes by going on a 6-0 run. Florida didn't score from 3:36 until Walsh nailed a jumper with eight seconds remaining in the first half. The Gators went into the locker room with Roberson and Walsh adding a combined 27 points to Florida's 40-23 lead at the half.
In the second half, Florida held Sam Houston State without a field goal for nearly nine minutes during which UF went on a 16-4 run. The Gators went on that half to put together a 12-0 run that lasted nearly six minutes. In the game Florida had 30 points in the paint and outscored Sam Houston State, 25-20, off turnovers.
The Gators tied a season high with nine blocks, including four from sophomore Chris Richard, a career high for the forward. Florida's stifling defense held the Bearkats to just 1-of-14 from the three point range for a 7.1 percentage from the arc. Sam Houston State's leading scorers, Joe Thompson and Eddy Fobbs, were held to just 13 points combined, while their season averages are 14.6 and 12.0 points per game, respectively. Florida also hit the boards hard, pulling down 43 rebounds, the fourth consecutive time this season the Gators notched 40 or more.
UF will return to the court on Sunday, Jan. 2 as the team travels to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on instate rival Florida State. Tip off is slated for 1 p.m. and will be carried by Raycom and carried on UPN locally in Gainesville.
