Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
At the Buzzer: Florida 95, Florida Southern 70 (Instant Breakdown)
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 95, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 70
FLORIDA 95, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 70
WHAT HAPPENED: Six UF players scored in double figures, led by fifth-year senior and preseason All-SEC swingman Jalen Hudson's 14 points, as the Gators gave their Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center faithful a preview of what's to come in the 2018-19 season Tuesday night with a win over the Division II Moccasins. Hudson was 4-for-10 from the floor and made three of his six shots from deep in 19 minutes. sophomore guard Deaundrae Ballard came off the bench to score 13 points on 5-for-10 field goals and 3-for-6 from the arc, while freshman reserve forward Keyontae Johnson did a little bit of everything in his UF debut by scoring 12 points, grabbing eight rebounds and adding an assist and steal. Third-year sophomore forward Dontay Bassett had 12 points, as well, hitting all five of his shots, including both 3-pointers (he attempted none last season). The Gators scored the game's first eight points, built the lead to 20 after 12 minutes behind 64-percent shooting and held that 20-point lead at the break. Their play was sloppy in the second half, though, as FSC hit 11 of its first 22 shots to the start the period and trimmed the margin to as few as 14 with just under eight minutes left when Johnson drove for a two-handed dunk, then fellow freshman Noah Locke (11 points, 3-for-6 from deep) drained a transition 3 from the corner to take the lead back to 19. UF shot 50 percent overall and made 14 of its 27 shots from the 3-point line (52 percent).
WHAT IT MEANS: A sneak peek of what's to come, and not much more. Don't put a lot of stock in the box score (especially individual minutes played) or the rotations that were used. What the Gators threw at the Mocs likely won't resemble the lineups they'll need to compete with a reigning Elite Eight opponent to open the season in one week. And don't discount nerves on the part of the bulk of the five UF freshmen.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Johnson was the newcomer who shined the brightest, but the player most under the pregame microscope was freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard, the 6-foot-5 Canadian and heir apparent to all-time assist leader Chris Chiozza. Nembhard had an unspectacular first half (2 points, 2 assists, 2 turnovers) and did not shoot the ball well overall (2-for-7), but his 27 minutes were a team-high for the Gators, which should be an indication of where he fits in the plan. He finished with four points, two rebounds, four assists, three turnovers and missed his only 3-point attempt and free throw.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: OK, so it's not that staggering, but the Gators have now won 29 consecutive exhibition games (you're supposed to win them, right?), dating to a 100-96 loss to EA Sports All-Stars in 2001. Anyone remember that one?
UP NEXT: Florida will open the 2018-19 season in one week, Nov. 6, on the road against rival Florida State. The Seminoles return their core players from a team that fell one game shy of reaching the Final Four last season before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Michigan in the NCAA West Region title game. The Gators have lost four straight to the Seminoles, the longest winning streak for FSU in the history of a series that dates to 1951.
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