GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Kevarrius Hayes came into Wednesday night's date against La Salle with just four field goals through the first two games of the season, but Florida's senior center had three in the first three minutes. Unfortunately, he also had two fouls in the first five minutes and had to take an early seat. 

"We were much better with him on the floor," UF coach Mike White said. 

Significantly better, especially during a defensive-led, up-tempo run early in the second half with Hayes not only on the floor but on his way to a 12-point, six-rebound night that represented one of his most productive all-around game over the last two seasons — "A loud 12 and six," White said — despite playing just 16 minutes. The Gators quickly turned a seven-point lead into a 23-point bulge and went on to defeat the Explorers 82-69 at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. 

Fifth-year senior swingman Jalen Hudson added 15 points, sinking six of his 12 shots, while freshman forward Keyontae Johnson pitched in 12 points. Freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard tallied four points, seven assists, just one turnover and three steals in 26 minutes, as the Gators (2-1) won a second straight. 

For Hayes, a.k.a. "Spidey," it was his first game scoring in double figures since last Jan. 6 against Missouri when he finished with 10 points, in what was the lone double-figure scoring game of his entire junior season. Heck, this one marked Hayes' best offensive production — and probably best all-around game — since going for a career-high 20 points and nine rebounds in a win at Oklahoma in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge way back on Jan. 28, 2017 — a stretch of 51 games. 

"We played more comfortably, more together and we kept the floor spaced, which allowed our shooters to get open, but also allowed some of our big guys to go to work," Hayes said. "It worked in my favor." 

Florida had an eight-point lead at halftime that shrunk to seven early in the second period when the Gators got things going. Their three-quarter press sped up the Explorers (0-3) and forced four turnovers and six straight missed shots over a span of nearly six minutes, as UF went on a 17-1 spree that opened the 23-point cushion. Along the way, Hayes and Johnson combined for 13 of those 17 points, with one of the plays a nasty downhill drive by Johnson from the top of the key that finished at the rim with a power one-handed dunk. 

"I just fed off Kevarrius' energy," Johnson said. 

That's how it often goes during Florida practices, where Hayes' passion and communication are among the few constants the team can count on, regardless of the time or place. 

"He cares about winning as much as anyone on our team," White said. "We know what we're getting from Kevarrius every day from an effort standpoint. He works his butt off. For him to have a good game individually, it's nice to see and, hopefully, it's a good example for his teammates, as well." 
 
One of them, redshirt freshman forward Isaiah Stokes, certainly appreciated it. Stokes, like Johnson, was inspired by his senior teammate on his way to nine points and two assists in 16 minutes. 

"As bigs, we need to take more pride in facilitating our offense, whether it's passing, play-making or scoring, whatever it may be," Stokes said, "I commend Spidey for having a great day on the inside." 

More than half of UF's points (46) came in the paint, as the Gators shot nearly 56 percent for the game, including 60.7 in the second half, when they basically eschewed the 3-point line (just 13 attempts for the game, only four after intermission), where they're making just 26 percent on the season. 

That's a number that has to improve, but not one White is too worried, right now. 

"As we try to hold them as accountable as possible and find a rotation, they have to find their confidence and offensive games," he said. 

Defensively, the Gators let the Explorers shoot 47 percent for the game, but an 11-1 run and five makes in six shots inside the final two minutes — after UF emptied its bench, including a couple walk-ons — pushed those numbers a bit. 

It was the early second-half defense, when Florida forced a pivotal chunk of its 19 turnovers that were converted into 30 points, that UF will take away from this one. 

"We addressed a lot of our mistakes that we made in the first half and kind of made a point to fix it in the second," Hayes said. "We had a good run, a good jump, everybody was playing hard, playing together. As long as we share the ball and play hard on defense a lot of things will work out for us."

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