Juniors Kenny Boynton (Pompano Beach, Fla.) and Mike Rosario (Jersey City, N.J.) each scored 19 points apiece in the season opener to lead the Gators past Jackson State, 99-59, and secure the 21st straight season debut Friday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The duo weren't the lone threat for Florida, as five players scored in double-digits, eight recorded an assist and eight broke away with a steal.
As a unit, the Gators out-rebounded the Tigers 44-29, with 23 offensive and 21 defensive rebounds, and forced 24 turnovers for 37 points in the game.
'We did a pretty good job rebounding, it's something that we have talked about a lot,” explained head coach Billy Donovan. “How we did tonight – that is the expectation level I have for our guys every time we go out there. They did well on the backboard, and did a good job overall. Anytime you can play with a plus-15 rebounding margin, it is a good day.”
Sophomore Patric Young (Jacksonville, Fla.) had a career-game with 10 rebounds and tied a personal-best 12 points for his first ever double-double performance. Additionally, Young also notched a career-high three assists and tied a career-best two blocks.
With a stout defensive effort, Florida limited Jackson State to just six points through the first six minutes of the game, as the Gators jumped ahead, 18-6, five minutes into the first half and limited the Tigers to single digits with eight minutes remaining in the first half. The Gators also went on a 23-0 run during the first half with points from six separate players in Boynton, Rosario, Young, Will Yeguete (Bordeaux, France) and freshman Bradley Beal (St. Louis, Mo.).
In his collegiate premiere donning the Orange and Blue, Beal notched 14 points, was 3-for-4 from the free throw line and totaled two rebounds. Rosario, who also made his Gator debut after transferring from Rutgers, had an impressive show tying for the team high with 19 points and adding three rebounds and three assists.
The Gators rolled up 59 points in the first half of the game, the most they have recorded in that time since they put the same number on the boards against North Florida on Nov. 20, 2007.
Erving Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.), the lone senior on the team, netted 10 points to push ahead in the UF record books with 1,340 career points – 22nd all-time in program history; the number surpasses fellow Gators Alex Tyus (2011) and Joe Hobbs (1958).
Jackson state was led by Jenirro Bush who posted 20 points on the board and totaled five rebounds.
The Orange and Blue will travel to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, Nov. 15 to face the Ohio State Buckeyes at 8:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and available for GatorVision subscribers online.
