Florida 89, Jacksonville 65 (Instant Analysis)
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 89, JACKSONVILLE 65
WHAT HAPPENED: UF danced a bit with the JU Tuesday night, but a run of 16 straight points midway through the second half gave the Gators a cushy margin and allowed them to coast home there at the O'Connell Center. Freshman guard KeVaughn Allen scored a career-high 15 points, while sophomore center John Egbunu added 14 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith and sophomore forward Devin Robinson, the top scorers and rebounders on the team, had a sluggish first half -- and actually did not start the second half -- but came alive after the break. Finney-Smith finished with 13 points, including 3-for-4 from the 3-point line and 10 points during that 16-0 run, and Robinson added 12 points and five rebounds. Point guard Chris Chiozza, making his third straight start, had seven points, five rebounds, seven assists and no turnovers.
WHAT IT MEANS: Always nice to exit the Christmas break with a victory. The Gators have done otherwise of late (see Kansas State, Dec. 22, 2012) and it is not fun.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ten days ago, Egbunu scored no points and fouled out in seven minutes at No. 10 Michigan State. On Saturday, Coach Mike White benched Egbunu from the starting lineup for the first time this season, opting to go with freshman Kevarrius Hayes against Oklahoma State because, White said, Hayes had a better week of practice. Whatever got into the 6-foot-11, 245-pounder before appears to have passed. Egbunu was engaged from the opening tip and finished 7-for-9 from the floor and blocked three shots. And speaking of Hayes, he was on the court a bunch against JU and ended with career bests in points (9) and rebounds (7).
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators scored a season-high 48 points in the paint, thoroughly taking advantage of their size edge against a JU team that actually played a game -- winning at home against Florida A&M -- Monday night.
UP NEXT: The Gators (8-3) get a three-day break for Christmas, with several of the players heading home after the game, and will return Saturday and resume practice Sunday. UF will be back on the floor next Tuesday, Dec. 29, when the Gators host rival Florida State (9-2). The Seminoles wrapped their pre-holiday schedule Monday night with a 75-64 home win over Charleston Southern.
FLORIDA 89, JACKSONVILLE 65
WHAT HAPPENED: UF danced a bit with the JU Tuesday night, but a run of 16 straight points midway through the second half gave the Gators a cushy margin and allowed them to coast home there at the O'Connell Center. Freshman guard KeVaughn Allen scored a career-high 15 points, while sophomore center John Egbunu added 14 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith and sophomore forward Devin Robinson, the top scorers and rebounders on the team, had a sluggish first half -- and actually did not start the second half -- but came alive after the break. Finney-Smith finished with 13 points, including 3-for-4 from the 3-point line and 10 points during that 16-0 run, and Robinson added 12 points and five rebounds. Point guard Chris Chiozza, making his third straight start, had seven points, five rebounds, seven assists and no turnovers.
WHAT IT MEANS: Always nice to exit the Christmas break with a victory. The Gators have done otherwise of late (see Kansas State, Dec. 22, 2012) and it is not fun.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ten days ago, Egbunu scored no points and fouled out in seven minutes at No. 10 Michigan State. On Saturday, Coach Mike White benched Egbunu from the starting lineup for the first time this season, opting to go with freshman Kevarrius Hayes against Oklahoma State because, White said, Hayes had a better week of practice. Whatever got into the 6-foot-11, 245-pounder before appears to have passed. Egbunu was engaged from the opening tip and finished 7-for-9 from the floor and blocked three shots. And speaking of Hayes, he was on the court a bunch against JU and ended with career bests in points (9) and rebounds (7).
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators scored a season-high 48 points in the paint, thoroughly taking advantage of their size edge against a JU team that actually played a game -- winning at home against Florida A&M -- Monday night.
UP NEXT: The Gators (8-3) get a three-day break for Christmas, with several of the players heading home after the game, and will return Saturday and resume practice Sunday. UF will be back on the floor next Tuesday, Dec. 29, when the Gators host rival Florida State (9-2). The Seminoles wrapped their pre-holiday schedule Monday night with a 75-64 home win over Charleston Southern.
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