Florida Gators

WHAT HAPPENED: Junior forward Colin Castleton scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked eight shots and carried the Gators back from a nine-point deficit with just over six minutes left Tuesday for a much-needed victory over the Rebels at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. UF, playing without sophomore wing and defensive ace Scottie Lewis due to health and safety protocols, outscored Ole Miss 14-0 over the final 3:54, with the aid of a technical foul against Rebels coach Kermit Davis with 49.9 seconds left in a five-point game. Castleton's 21 points were two off his career high, but his rebound and blocks totals were tops for his career. He hit six of his 12 field-goal tries and also had three assists and went 9-for-12 from the free-throw line. Sophomore point guard Tre Mann had 17 points, seven rebounds and went 8-for-8 from the line. Junior shooting guard Noah Locke, back in the starting lineup with Lewis out, had 15 points, including the go-ahead 3-ball in transition with 2:34 left after Castleton swatted a Mississippi shot off the backboard and initiated a UF fastbreak. Florida led by 11 midway through the first half, but Ole Miss worked its way back to within two at halftime and opened the second half by shooting 66 percent through nearly the first 13 minutes of the period. From there, however, the Rebels clanged their last eight field-goal attempts while the Gators got hot and finished on a 20-2 run and closed out a victory they sorely needed. Against a defense ranked 19th nationally in efficiency, the Gators shot 45.5 percent for the game (to the Rebels' 39), while also helping themselves by going 22-for-26 from the free-throw line (84.6 percent) after coming into the game at 65 percent in league play. UF out-rebounded Mississippi 21-13 after intermission, as well. Ole Miss senior guard Devontae Shuler led his team with 19 points. 
 
WHAT IT MEANS: The two-game skid was ugly, but it's over. The Gators showed some spunk in this one, despite being down a significant man, and looked far livelier and engaged than in the losses at Alabama and home against Kentucky last week. Obviously, the Rebels aren't in the class of those two teams -- Bama defeated the Wildcats for the first time at Rupp Arena since 2006 on Tuesday night -- but winning games you're supposed to win, especially at home, is paramount. Comeback wins are fun, too. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Castleton had a tough couple outings against two big, strong and outstanding defensive teams last week. He gets credit for bouncing back. In a big way. 

STAGGERING STATISTIC: That 14-0 run and eight straight missed Ole Miss shots to end the game was pretty staggering and a testament to UF's defense down the stretch.

UP NEXT: Florida (6-3, 3-2) ) gets the other team from the Magnolia State, this one on the road, when the Gators head to Mississippi State (8-4, 3-1). The Bulldogs, who play Wednesday night at home against Texas A&M, clubbed No. 13 Missouri by 15 last week and their only loss was a five-point setback in double-overtime against Kentucky.