Florida Gators
Stetson
M. Basketball Wins Season Opener, 74-46, Over Stetson
Sunday, November 15, 2009 | Men's Basketball
The University of Florida men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2009 season with a 74-46 victory over Stetson (1-1) on Sunday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Junior forward Chandler Parsons (Casselberry, Fla.) scored 14 points and junior forward Alex Tyus (St. Louis, Mo.) added 12 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
The Gators have won 19-straight season openers and are 14-0 in opening games under head coach Billy Donovan.
The Gator defense was solid, limiting the Hatters to the fewest points by an opponent in modern history, a feat previously accomplished against St. Petersburg in 2005. Stetson shot just 28.6 percent from the field (16-for-56), setting a new school record. The lowest field goal percentage by an opponent in an opener was 31.0 by Florida State in 1963. The Hatters were 2 of 17 from the 3-point range.
The Gators used a 31-4 run in the first half to pull away. Junior center Vernon Macklin (Portsmouth, Va.) tallied eight rebounds on the night, adding 13 points and a team-high three blocks. Sophomore guard Erving Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the team in assists with three and was four-of-nine from the field for eight points. Walker and sophomore guard Ray Shipman (Miramar, Fla.) had two steals a piece. Shipman had five points.
Freshman guard Kenny Boynton (Pompano Beach, Fla.) tallied 12 points (five-of-11 from the field), two rebounds and two assists.
Parsons had the only three-pointer of the night for Florida, hitting the 22-footer with 31.2 seconds to play in the game. Florida had made at least one 3-pointer in a school-record 579 games, a streak that dates back to Jan. 11, 1992.
Tyshawn Patterson led the Hatters with 19 points. A.J. Smith added 12.
The Gators continue their four-game home stretch on Wednesday night as the team hosts Georgia Southern at the O'Connell Center at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FS Florida.
