At the Buzzer: Florida 56, UAB 47 (Instant Analysis)
Friday, November 28, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 56, ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM 47
WHAT HAPPENED: Trailing by two with less than four minutes to play, the Gators went on a late-game tear and scored the game's final 11 points, thanks to some clutch free throws, good defense and a couple timely baskets that put away the pesky Blazers and advanceed UF in the loser's bracket of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Michael Frazier II scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, freshman guard Chris Chiozza came off the bench to tally 13 points, six steals and three assists, while center Jon Horford had eight points, eight rebounds and a huge blocked shot in the final two minutes.
WHAT IT MEANS: While exactly no one will be impressed by this outcome, it beats the alternative of being winless in the loser's bracket going into the final day. Plus, the Gators probably would have been somewhat sharper -- with an emphasis on "probably" and "somewhat" -- if guard Eli Carter had not been held out with a sore foot after playing 35 minutes in Wednesday night's overtime loss to Georgetown.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chiozza was sensational, providing both energy off the bench, but also some steady/heady play with the ball and some big-time shots when the Gators needed them.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators shot 34.4 percent from the floor for the game, including a measly 32 percent in the second half, and also clanged just 56.5 percent from the free-throw line, yet somehow managed to win the game.
UP NEXT: The Gators (3-2) will face fifth-ranked North Carolina (4-1), an impressive 78-56 winner over No. 22 UCLA in the early evening game, at the top of top of the loser's bracket Friday at 8 p.m. The game will mark UF's first meeting against the storied Tar Heels program since the 2000 Final Four at Indianapolis, where the Gators prevailed 71-59 to advance to the NCAA title game.
