Florida Gators

What Happened

Grad-transfer forward Tyrese Samuel scored 17 points and 7-foot-1 center Micah Handlogten had a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, as the Gators defeated Missouri 79-67 in their Southeastern Conference game Saturday night at Mizzou Arena for their first road victory of the season. Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. had 15 points, junior wing Will Richard tossed in 13 and grad-transfer point guard Zyon Pullin added 11, giving UF five players in double figures for the second time in three games. The Gators shot well enough to win at 44.6 percent, but it was their work on the glass that made the biggest difference. UF out-rebounded the Tigers, winless in league play, 40-27 overall and 13-4 on the offensive end for a 13-2 edge in second-chance points. For Handlogten, it was his second double-double of the season and first since facing Virginia on Nov. 10, a run of 16 games. After a close-throughout first half, the Tigers led 43-42 early in the second when a run of eight straight points for the Gators put them ahead, as it turned out, for good. Missouri clawed back to within three, but Pullin drained a deep 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock to help get UF back ahead by eight with 12 minutes left, and then sophomore guard Riley Kugel (8 points, 7 rebounds) bombed a step-back logo 3-pointer at the end of another shot clock with 7:32 remaining to give the Gators their first double-digit lead of the game, eventually driving it to as high as 14. Mizzou got no closer than 10 the rest of the way, despite guard Tamar Bates pouring in a career-high 36 points. Guard Nick Honor, with 10 points, was the only other Mizzou player in double figures 

What it Means

With its second league win, the Gators planted themselves in a jumble of seven teams that are either 3-2 or 2-3 in league play. Lots of basketball to play in what is going to be a rugged conference journey. 
 

In the Spotlight

Bates, the transfer from Indiana, outscored his next-closest Tiger by 26 points. It didn't matter what Gator was guarding him, either. Bates, who came in averaging 11.6 points a game, finished 13-for-21 from the floor and 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. His previous career-high was 25, which he got once at Indiana and earlier this season against Central Arkansas. 
 

Staggering Statistic

UF came into the game surrendering 90.0 points per game and 53.6-percent shooting from the floor, including 60.4 from the 2-point area. The Gators improved on those numbers, as the Tigers finished at 43.4 percent and 54.0 inside the arc, showing their decent home defense can travel. 
 

Up Next

After playing two tough games this week, Florida (12-6, 2-3) is home for the next two games, starting with Wednesday night's date against Mississippi State (13-5, 2-3), which defeated Vanderbilt 68-55 at home earlier Saturday. The Bulldogs are the only SEC team to beat Tennessee this season. And speaking of Bulldogs, UF will remain home through the week with former Gators coach Mike White and Georgia due in town next Saturday. Missouri (8-10, 0-5) will play Wednesday at Texas A&M.