Florida Gators
Michigan State
No. 1 Spartans Too Much For Gators In the End
Sunday, December 13, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Florida hung around with the nation's top-ranked team, but in falling at top-ranked Michigan State lost to a second ranked foe in five days.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- If anything was taken from Saturday night's loss at Michigan State (other than a hard-fought defeat), the Florida Gators now know what they're capable of defensive-wise and energy-wise.
"Tonight was almost fun," UF coach Mike White. "Almost really fun."
White stopped well short of claiming anything remotely close to a morale victory after the No. 1-ranked Spartans made the plays and shots down the stretch to hold on for a 58-52 win before 14,797 screaming maniacs at the sold-out Breslin Center. In falling to a second ranked opponent in five days -- and third this season in as many tries -- the Gators (6-3) continued their poor shooting ways, yet had chances to overcome their offense in one of the nation's most hostile venues and against one of its most powerful and battle-tested programs.
Leading by just two inside six minutes remaining, the Spartans (11-0) surrendered only one field goal and forced three turnovers on UF's final six possessions to get out with a game they trailed only twice for a total of 1:50 of the second half.
Senior guard and All-America candidate Denzel Valentine scored 17 points, including four in the final 5:40 when the Gators managed just three points. Backcourt mate Bryn Forbes threw in 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for an MSU team that overcome its lowest scoring output (by 15 points) and worst shooting performance (36.8 percent) of the season
Meanwhile, the Gators were their normal shooting-challenged selves -- UF is "searching offensively," White likes to say -- in hitting 33 percent from the floor, 22 percent from the 3-point line (4 of 18) and 56 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 18).
And yet they were right there down the stretch because of defense and hustle.
"It was a knock-down, drag-out, very physical game," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said.
Yes, and UF had to play it with their most physical player, 6-foot-10, 255-pound center John Egbunu, basically in foul trouble from the time he got off the bus. Egbunu got his second foul barely two minutes into the game and was done for the half. He got his third and fourth fouls barely three minutes into the second and was done for the next 12 minutes.
When he finally re-entered with 6:17 remaining -- in a one-point game -- Egbunu lasted less than two minutes before fouling out with no points and two rebounds in seven minutes.
"Without our best rebounder, it made it tougher," Florida sophomore guard Chris Chiozza said. "He just could never get in a rhythm on the court."
The Gators suffered on the glass for it. MSU out-rebounded them 45-34, with 16 on the offensive glass. The UF bigs that stayed on the floor, forwards Dorian Finney-Smith (13 points, 6 rebounds) and Devin Robinson (10 points, 9 rebounds), helped keep their team in the game, but it was Chiozza, inserted in the starting lineup for the first time this season, who gave the Gators their biggest lift.
Senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith drives the ball in Saturday's 58-52 loss at Michigan State. [Photos by Mark Newman]
After UF missed its first 10 3-point shots and MSU opened its biggest lead of the game -- up 35-27 with just over 17 minutes remaining -- Chiozza buried three straight 3s on consecutive possessions to tie the game at 38 and silence the deafening crowd.
Chiozza got the start after Kasey Hill, his offensive struggles mounting, went to White following Tuesday night's loss at No. 17 Miami and told the coach it was time to give Chiozza a chance at the starting job.
"I thought it would be best for the team," Hill said.
Added White: "I don't know that I've ever had a player to do that in my years of coaching."
The move sparked Chiozza, who scored all 11 of his points after intermission, but also lit something with Hill, who had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals in coming off the bench for the first time since he backed up Scottie Wilbekin in the 2014 Final Four. After the Spartans answered Chiozza's barrage with a couple baskets, Hill's old-fashion 3-point play tied the game at 42-all. Eventually, Hill and Chiozza were on the floor together most of the second half.
Backup center Kevarrius Hayes came up with a loose ball in a mad mid-court scramble and, from the floor, shoveled it up court to Finney-Smith, who hit a 3-pointer for a 45-42 UF lead -- its first -- at the 9:52 mark. Michigan State got a layup from Marvin Clark Jr., then after a Florida turnover, Javon Best attacked the UF defense for a short jumper as the Spartans retook the lead at 46-45.
A stick-back by Robinson put the Gators up again, 47-46, but center MSU Matt Costello (8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks) hit a short hook for a 48-47 edge at the 6:50 mark. Again, Michigan State was up.
For good, as it turned out.
"We had chances against one of the best programs in the country," White said. "I think there are some positives to take from it, but for us to find satisfaction from a loss would be foolish."
But it likely left the Gators wondering what might have been had the Michigan State-like energy been there when the team faced Purdue (still unbeaten and now up to 11th) three weeks ago and Miami mere days ago.
No, Florida is not an efficient offensive team. Far from it. After Finney-Smith, Robinson, Chiozza and Hill, the seven other Gators that played combined to go 1-for-17 from the floor. But energy can make up for a lot of things, including an offense that is "searching."
Now they have a reference point to work from.
"Coming out and playing like this against the No. 1 team in the country, we know we can play with anyonr," Hill said. "Everything is on us. It's not about the other team. It's about being focused and playing for each other. We do that, we'll be fine."
