At the Buzzer: Florida 81, Baylor 60 (Instant Breakdown)

AT THE BUZZER
No. 20 FLORIDA 81, BAYLOR 60

WHAT HAPPENED: The 20th-ranked Gators had the hot shooting hands from the opening tip and used them to drill the Bears before a sellout crowd Saturday in the opening game of the all-day, 10-game SEC/Big Challenge at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Senior point guard Chris Chiozza, absolutely dazzling at times, scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds and pitched six assists to lead an offense that shot 58 percent in the first half, including 75 percent from the 3-point. That shooting helped the Gators build a 12-point lead at the break, with the Bears getting no closer than nine in the second half. Junior guard Jalen Hudson came off the bench to score 17, at one point dropping 10 straight midway through the second half after Baylor made it a 10-point game. Grad-transfer forward Egor Koulechov started hot, hitting his first three 3-pointers as UF build a nine-point lead less than four minutes into the game. He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

WHAT IT MEANS: Nothing, relative to the Southeastern Conference race. Just a good, solid home win in this cool event. The Gators improved to 4-1 in the five SEC/Big 12 challenges, while handing the Bears their first loss in as many tries. Both teams are now 4-1 in the event that has been dominated by the Big 12 in its five seasons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chiozza put up a decent stat line in Wednesday's home loss to South Carolina, but did not play a great game by his standards, especially on defense. He was great Saturday, going 7-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-7 from the arc, and thoroughly out-playing Baylor point guard and leading scorer Manu Lecomte (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists). Chiozza also had just one turnover. Make that 11 straight games that Chiozza has had two turnovers or less.

STAGGERING STATISTIC: After combining to make just 12 of 53 shots from the 3-point line the last two games (22.6 percent), the Gators hit seven of their first eight long balls against the Bears, on the way to going 9-for-12 in the first half (75 percent), and 14-for-25 for the game (56 percent).

UP NEXT: The Gators (15-6, 6-2) return to SEC play Tuesday night when they face Georgia (12-7, 3-5) at Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs, sent to Kansas State for their SEC/Big 12 matchup Saturday afternoon, have dropped four of the previous five league games, but boast the conference's leading scorer and second-leading rebounder in power forward Yante Maten.

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At the Buzzer: Florida 81, Baylor 60 (Instant Breakdown)

Players Mentioned

Chris Chiozza

Jalen Hudson

Egor Koulechov

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