FINAL: Florida 80, Embry-Riddle 57
Monday, November 1, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 80, EMBRY-RIDDLE 57
FLORIDA 80, EMBRY-RIDDLE 57
WHAT HAPPENED: Graduate transfer guard Brandon McKissic came alive in the second half, scoring 14 of his game-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and the Gators pulled away from the Division-II Eagles in their Monday night exhibition game at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. McKissic, the transfer from Missouri-Kansas City, went 2-for-6 from the floor in the first half, but then buried five of seven in the second half, with four of five coming from deep. Fifth-year senior forward Anthony Duruji added 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out with three minutes left, while classmate and point guard Tyree Appleby provided a jolt of energy off the bench with 13 points, seven assists and just two turnovers over 28 minutes. Senior forward Colin Castleton had a rough first half (no field goals), but still finished with 10 points and nine boards. UF led by just six after a first half when it shot only 31.3 percent from the floor and made only four of 18 from 3-point range. The Eagles closed within four, at 41-37 with 14 minutes to go, but back-to-back converted 3s by Appleby (the second a four-point play), then 3s from McKissic and the 6-foot-11 Castleton quickly opened by a 13-point lead for the home team, as ERAU called a timeout. Out of the stoppage, McKissic scored eight points, with a couple 3s, over the next 90 seconds to push the Gators lead up to 19. In addition to McKissic, the sneak preview also marked the debuts of three other transfers: guards Phlandrous Fleming Jr., formerly of Charleston Southern (9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and Myreon Jones, by way of Penn State (4 points, 4 assists, 0-6 from 3), along with ex-Boston College forward CJ Felder (9 points, 6 rebounds).
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Had it not been for Duruji in the first half, the Gators could have been in a far worse trouble at halftime. He had 12 points before intermission, made all four of his field-goal tries and had five rebounds at the break. Duruji was the best player in UF's closed scrimmage two weekends ago against North Carolina and he looks to be far more confident than he was this time last season as a high-major rookie who sat out a year after transferring from Louisiana Tech.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: OK, so it's not so staggering, but the fact the Gators only turned the ball over nine times after averaging 15.0 per game (the most in Coach Mike White's six seasons) was a good omen relative to the team's pledge to be more careful with the basketball this season. Even better, they had 18 assists (or twice as many dimes than giveaways) after averaging just 11.7 a game last season (also a low under White).
UP NEXT: Florida opens the 2021-22 regular season at home Nov. 9 against Elon University, out of the Colonial Athletic Conference. The Phoenix went 10-9 last season and were picked to finish sixth in the CAA this season in a preseason poll of league coaches.
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