Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
At the Buzzer: Florida 84, Vanderbilt 66
Saturday, February 15, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 84, VANDERBILT 66
FLORIDA 84, VANDERBILT 66
WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore guard Noah Locke continued his torrid long-range shooting in raining 19 points and a season-high six 3-pointers on the Commodores to lead the Gators to a wipeout win on a Saturday night at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center that was as successful as it was emotional. On a night the floor at the O'Dome was officially christened "Billy Donovan Court" -- and the iconic coach took a bow to an adoring crowd at halftime -- the Gators put together a wire-to-wire performance fitting of the Donovan era. UF never trailed in the game, despite losing both point guard Andrew Nembhard and forward Keyontae Johnson to early foul trouble. While Vandy was hitting just five of 23 field goals in the first half, the Gators made 13 of 25, including seven of 12 from the 3-point arc. Locke went 4-for-5 from deep in the first period, including two during a run of nine straight points that helped open a 21-point lead with five minutes to go. The lead was 41-19 when Commodores coach Jerry Stackhouse took exception to a no-call on the Vandy offensive end that left one of his players down on the floor and injured. Stackhouse went to mid-court to speak to the official, got two technicals and was ejected. Freshman wing Scottie Lewis hit all four free throws, as Florida's lead was 29 by halftime. It got as large as 32, but shrunk under Vandy's second-half shooting of 56 percent, including eight of 13 from the 3-point line. Locke, who went 5-for-16 from deep in Wednesday night's win at Texas A&M, finished six of eight from the floor and also had four rebounds. He's now hitting 51.3 percent from 3 in SEC play. Grad-transfer forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. had 15 points, three rebounds and five assists, while Johnson had 11 points and six boards.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With respectful apologies to the players on the floor, this game was about nostalgia. So we'll go with the guy whose name is now on the court, and the parade of former players and coaches who came back to honor him.
UP NEXT: Florida (16-9, 8-4) is back at home Tuesday night to face Arkansas (16-8, 4-7), which lost a 78-77 heartbreaker at home to Mississippi State earlier Saturday. It was the Razorbacks' fourth straight defeat, and fifth in the last six, as they have struggled since losing guard Isaiah Joe to a knee injury that might have ended his season.
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