Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
At the Buzzer: No. 10 Michigan State 63, Florida 59 (Instant Breakdown)
Saturday, December 8, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
No. 10 MICHIGAN STATE 63, FLORIDA 59
No. 10 MICHIGAN STATE 63, FLORIDA 59
WHAT HAPPENED: Forward Kyle Ahrens scored all seven of his points on three baskets over the final three minutes, each of them daggers that helped stave off a furious UF rally and allowed the 10th-ranked Spartans to escape Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center with a victory Saturday afternoon. The Gators trailed by 12 in the second half, but managed to make it a one-possession game on four different occasions in the final six-plus minutes. Each time, the Spartans had an answer, but the final three minutes were the most frustrating for the home team. After senior guard KeVaughn Allen (13 points, 3 rebounds) hit a 3-pointer to draw UF within three, Ahrens, scoreless at the time, hit one of his own. After freshman Andrew Nembhard (13 points, 6-of-12 from floor, 3 assists, 3 turnovers) drove the lane for a layup to make it a 4-point game, Ahrens drove for a layup to answer. And after Keith Stone (8 points, 6 rebounds) hit a jumper in the post and Nembhard drove for another bucket to make it a two-point game with 1:19 left, the two teams traded possessions. On MSU's turn, Florida's defense forced a loose ball that rolled out of scrum and right to Ahrens on the right wing. Ahrens scooped it up and drove for a two-handed dunk as the 30-second shot clock expired, making it a two-possession game with 8.7 seconds left and sending the Gators to defeat despite holding the nation's sixth-ranked offense to 24 points below its average of 87.1 points a game. Michigan State forwards Nick Ward (13 points) and backup Xavier Tillman (14 points) wore UF out in the post, combining to make 12 of their 15 shots, as the Spartans scored 36 of their 63 points in the paint and shot 51 percent for the game. Florida shot just 36 percent overall and made only six of 24 attempts from the 3-point line.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Freshman forward Keyontae Johnson (6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks) did not fill up his stat line, but the Gators' best athlete, for the second game in a row, played much closer to what the coaching staff expects from their rookie forward when he keeps his motor revved (not always the case). A guy who can jump and with a reach like Johnson needs to crash the glass, grab offensive rebounds, force tips, whatever he can do to create chances at second possessions. At one point, Johnson grabbed an offensive rebound, pitched it out front and went to the wing to double over and catch his breath. That's encouraging.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: After Allen knocked down two of UF's first three field-goal attempts in just over the first 60 seconds of the game, the Gators went nearly eight minutes without a field goal, missing 14 of the ensuing 15 shots. Sound familiar? The Gators had a close to nine-minute drought Tuesday against West Virginia, but awakened from it, albeit against a team that also was struggling to score. Those types of scoreless can be weathered against mid- and low-majors. Against a program like Michigan State? Just makes it that much tougher.
UP NEXT: Florida (5-4) doesn't play for 10 days, what with exams all next week. On Dec. 18, the Gators will resume play with another low-major opponent when they host Mercer (4-5), which has close losses so far to North Carolina State and SEC-killer Georgia State, on a Tuesday night at the O'Dome. The Bears (4-5), out of the Southern Conference, are on a similar schedule as the Gators. They play Georgia Southern later today, then are off until the trip to Gainesville.
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