At the Buzzer: Kentucky 80, Florida 61 (Instant Analysis)
Saturday, February 6, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
KENTUCKY 80, FLORIDA 61
WHAT HAPPENED: An ambush, that's what. The No. 20 Wildcats played like a desperate team coming off two tough losses, taking it to the Gators from the opening tip -- hitting their first four shots and six of their first seven -- to race to a 24-point first-half lead and cruising home at Rupp Arena. UK freshman guard Jamal Murray poured in a career-high 35 points, scoring 20 in the first half and hitting his first six shots from 3-point range. Sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis had 18 points and 11 assists, as the Cats shot 51.7 percent from the floor and went 12-for-20 from the 3-point line. Florida was led, as usual, by senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who tallied 24 points and eight rebounds, but the Gators couldn't overcome UK's sizzling hot start or their own cold one.
WHAT IT MEANS: Just another loss in Lexington, where the Gators are now 9-50 all-time. UF also fell back into a jumbled pack for third place in the SEC standings after starting the day in a tie with Kentucky and South Carolina for second.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Finney-Smith now has three straight games with at least 20 points, but on the opposite spectrum freshman guard KeVaughn Allen had a tough afternoon. After hitting double-figures 11 of the previous 13 games, Allen scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting, with his lone field goal and running, desperation 3-pointer at the first half buzzer.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Got to be Murray, who was 13 of 21 for the game, including 8-for-10 from the arc to best his previous career best of 33 against Ohio State earlier this season.
UP NEXT: Florida (15-8, 6-4) is back home Tuesday night to face Ole Miss (14-8, 4-5), which is home Saturday night against Vanderbilt. The game will be the first rematch of the season for the Gators, who defeated the Rebels 80-71 at Oxford on Jan. 16.
KENTUCKY 80, FLORIDA 61
WHAT HAPPENED: An ambush, that's what. The No. 20 Wildcats played like a desperate team coming off two tough losses, taking it to the Gators from the opening tip -- hitting their first four shots and six of their first seven -- to race to a 24-point first-half lead and cruising home at Rupp Arena. UK freshman guard Jamal Murray poured in a career-high 35 points, scoring 20 in the first half and hitting his first six shots from 3-point range. Sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis had 18 points and 11 assists, as the Cats shot 51.7 percent from the floor and went 12-for-20 from the 3-point line. Florida was led, as usual, by senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who tallied 24 points and eight rebounds, but the Gators couldn't overcome UK's sizzling hot start or their own cold one.
WHAT IT MEANS: Just another loss in Lexington, where the Gators are now 9-50 all-time. UF also fell back into a jumbled pack for third place in the SEC standings after starting the day in a tie with Kentucky and South Carolina for second.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Finney-Smith now has three straight games with at least 20 points, but on the opposite spectrum freshman guard KeVaughn Allen had a tough afternoon. After hitting double-figures 11 of the previous 13 games, Allen scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting, with his lone field goal and running, desperation 3-pointer at the first half buzzer.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Got to be Murray, who was 13 of 21 for the game, including 8-for-10 from the arc to best his previous career best of 33 against Ohio State earlier this season.
UP NEXT: Florida (15-8, 6-4) is back home Tuesday night to face Ole Miss (14-8, 4-5), which is home Saturday night against Vanderbilt. The game will be the first rematch of the season for the Gators, who defeated the Rebels 80-71 at Oxford on Jan. 16.
Players Mentioned
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