Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
At the Buzzer: Florida 81, South Carolina 68
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 81, SOUTH CAROLINA 68
FLORIDA 81, SOUTH CAROLINA 68
WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard posted the first double-double of his career, scoring 21 points and dishing 10 assists, while sophomore forward Keyontae Johnson was good for a game-high 19 points, 10 rebounds and his second straight double-double, as the Gators closed strong to win their Southeastern Conference road opener Tuesday night at Colonial Life Arena. UF withstood a rough second-half patch of shooting when it missed 10 of 11 field-goal attempts, but maintained a lead by making free throws -- 14-for-18 for the period, 19-for-25 for the game -- and scored the night's final eight points while holding the Gamecocks scoreless the last 2:43. Freshman forward Scottie Lewis nearly joined the double-party, falling a rebound short with 15 points and nine boards. The visitors managed to stick around despite a foul-plagued first half from leading scorer and rebounder Kerry Blackshear Jr., who had just two minutes on the floor, but returned to impact the second half with 11 points and five rebounds. That impact wasn't like Nembhard's, though. He picked up where he left off from his career-high 25 points in Saturday's rousing, record-breaking comeback against Alabama by hitting eight of his 14 field-goal attempts, three of five 3-pointers and both free throws over 37 minutes. The Gators used 50-percent shooting in the first half to take a 40-37 lead into the locker room. Halfway through the second half, the margin was eight, but the Gamecocks hung tough while UF was going through a 1-for-11 stretch. USC cut the league to three, 61-58, but a mini-run by the visitors of 8-1, capped by a 3-pointer from Nembhard, took the lead to nine with just over five minutes remaining. The Gamecocks got it to five a couple times, as well as six approaching two minutes, but Nembhard hit another killer 3-ball at the 2:00 mark to make it a nine-point lead.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In his last two games, Nembhard has hit 16 of his 23 shots overall, four of his 10 from the arc, 10 of 12 from the free-throw line and averaged 23.0 points and 39 minutes. His aggressiveness in the halfcourt has been a game-changer in those two games.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Blackshear got his first foul 16 seconds into the game when he chased down a run-out off a turnover and needlessly fouled Maik Kotsar on a 3-point play to open the game. He got his second foul after checking back in the game at the 12:50 mark. His first-half line: zero points, zero rebounds, two fouls, two minutes ... and the Gators led by three at the break. Give both freshman forward Omar Payne (3 points, 9 rebounds, 12 minutes) and fourth-year junior Dontay Bassett (4 points, 2 rebounds, two charges taken over 10 minutes) for stepping up in Blackshear's stead. UF is deeper at the "5" than it has been in a long time.
UP NEXT: Florida (10-4, 2-0) gets a second straight road trip to a second straight Columbia. This time, it's off to Missouri (8-6, 0-2) for a Saturday night date at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers opened their SEC slate on the road Saturday with a loss at No. 17 Kentucky and Tuesday night fell at home against Tennessee.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballFlorida Men's Basketball | Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon Post Double-Doubles
Tuesday, November 18
Florida Men's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference | Miami (FL.)
Tuesday, November 18
Florida Men's Basketball | Urban Klavzar DRILLS Three-Pointer for Career-High 15 PTS 🔥
Monday, November 17
Todd Golden, Urban Klavzar and Alex Condon Postgame Press Conference 11-16-25
Sunday, November 16
