Florida Gators

WHAT HAPPENED: Forward Chris Silva skied over the entire UF defense, caught a length-of-the-court pass that was in-bounded with 3.5 seconds left then threw down an uncontested dunk with 2.3 seconds and the Gamecocks left Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center with a jaw-dropping last-second heist of a victory before a stunned and bummed home crowd. Silva's play came after UF senior center Kevarrius Hayes made the second of two free throws with 3.5 seconds to go to tie the game. Forward Felipe Haase, at the far baseline, heaved the ball all the way to the far block, where a line of UF defenders misplayed what was a perfectly thrown 90-foot pass. The ball fell righto to Silva, who caught it with two hands, virtually uncovered, and went up for the two-handed throw down to a collective O'Dome gasp, completing a comeback from 14 points down with 11 minutes to go. Down 10 with 8:31 remaining, the Gamecocks went on a 12-2 run that included nine straight points, with the last six coming from forward Keyshawn Bryant. After Keyontae Johnson made one of two free throws to put the Gators back in front by one, Silva's post and layup gave South Carolina its first lead since 1-0. Two free throws from backup center Dontay Bassett put UF back in front with 2:51 left, but again it was Silva putting the Gamecocks in front with a pair of free throws of his own with 1:36 to play. Florida had one final chance, but Hayes, fouled chasing a loose ball, bounced both the first of his free throws, but sank the second to set up the crazy ending. Silva finished with 18 points and five rebounds, hit five of six shots and eight of nine free throws in just 19 minutes, due to foul trouble in the first half, as the Gamecocks shot 52 percent in the second half. Hayes, far and away the team's best defender, played just nine minutes due to foul trouble at the start of both halves, with his absence a key element to South Carolina's ability to come from behind. The Gators, led by Noah Locke's 17 points, went just 9-for-27 in the second half (33 percent) and did not score a field goal over the last 7:17 of the game. Point guard Andrew Nembhard had 10 points, seven assists and just three turnovers, but was 5-for-16 from the floor, including 0-for-5 from the arc.
 
WHAT IT MEANS: Never want to start the conference season with a loss. In fact, this is the first time the Gators have done so in seven years, dating to a road defeat at Tennessee in 2012. And this one came against the only team in the SEC with a record below .500. Check the schedule. It doesn't get any easier. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Backup guard Hassani Gravatt, the fifth-year senior guard and junior college transfer, kept the Gamecocks in the game and hanging around by scoring 22 points, one of his career high, including 7-for-11 from the floor and 4-for-7 night from the 3-point line. He started the night averaging just 9.9 per game. Gravatt also had six rebounds and three assists. 

STAGGERING STATISTIC: Going field goal-less over the final seven-plus minutes is not only staggering, but self-inflicting. UF missed its last eight shots and 11 of its last 12, the latter drought spanning more than 10 minutes. 

UP NEXT: Florida (8-5, 0-1) hits the SEC road for the first time with a Wednesday night date at Arkansas (10-3, 1-0), which opened its league slate earlier Saturday with 73-71 road win at Texas A&M.