Florida Gators

What Happened

Florida grad-transfer point guard Zyon Pullin scored seven points in overtime, including a pair of free throws with 5.7 seconds left, and the Gators survived a furious Georgia comeback from 21 down in the second half to escape with a 102-98 victory in their Southeastern Conference rivalry game Saturday afternoon at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Both UF and UGA had chances to win in the final seconds of regulation. Both teams turned the ball over on their possessions. Pullin started the extra period with a downhill drive to an old-time 3-point play and the Gators never trailed thereafter, though the Bulldogs twice drew within a point before consecutive baskets by guard Will Richard and Pullin gave the Gators some breathing room to work with. They got the margin out to five, then to seven with 22.7 seconds left before UGA scored five straight to close within a basket, 100-98, with 6.5 seconds to go and setting up Pullin's heroics at the free-throw line. UF was led by sophomore center Micah Handlogten, who finished with career-highs of 23 points on 10-for-13 from the floor and 17 rebounds over 35 minutes. Pullin had 20 points (7-for-8 from the free-throw line), seven rebounds, eight assists and just one turnover, but his teammates weren't nearly as secure with the basketball. Florida turned it over 19 times, including 10 during the second period when Georgia roared back from that 21-deficit, mostly behind backup guard RJ Melendez's game-high 35 points. UGA scored the final 10 points of regulation and 13 of the last 15 to force the overtime. Melendez, the transfer from Illinois averaging 9.8 points per game, finished 13-for-19 from the floor, six of 10 from the arc and three of four from the free-throw line over 33 minutes. Richard had 18 points and seven rebounds, guard Walter Clayton Jr. had 18 points and backup freshman forward Alex Condon had 10 points, four rebounds, five assists and two huge free throws during the OT to help hold the Bulldogs at bay. Florida shot 55 percent for the game and smashed Georgia on the glass, 48-27, but the 19 turnovers were an equalizer converted into 24 points. The Bulldogs didn't need the help. They shot 52 percent overall, made 11 of 26 from the 3-point line and turned it over just nine times. After Melendez, 7-foot, 270-pound center Russel Tchewa had 15 points and 11 rebounds, with freshman guard Blue Cain scoring 14 off the bench, including the final five over the final 1:18 of regulation. 

What it Means

The Gators have their first three-game winning streak in SEC play this season (and second during Coach Todd Golden's two seasons). Two weeks ago, UF woke up tied for last place in the league standings after starting the slate with two losses, but the Gators have won four of five and are above .500 in league play for the first time. By day's end, they'll be no worse than seventh in the SEC standings. That said, not everything is rosy. Three nights ago, UF let a big lead slip away and allowed things to get way too interesting in an eventual 79-70 win over Mississippi State. This game could easily have gone down as one of the most bitter home losses in years (and, conversely, maybe the most richly satisfying of the career former UF coach Mike White) ... but it didn't. That counts for something. Florida has won nine straight against Georgia, dating to 2020. 

In the Spotlight

 If the 7-foot-1, 236-pound Handlogten can put up half the numbers he did against the Bulldogs, the Gators are going win some games down the stretch. 
 

Staggering Statistic

Handlogten's 17 rebounds were the most by a Gator since Alex Tyus pulled down 17 against Brigham Young in the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA Tournament on March 24, 2011.
 

Up Next

After back-to-back home games, Florida (14-6, 4-3) has another week of back-to-back roadies, with the first one Wednesday at sixth-ranked Kentucky (14-4, 4-2) in a rematch of their SEC opener on Jan. 6 when the Wildcats, down six with seven minutes to go, got out of the O'Dome with an 87-85 win. UK plays at Arkansas (10-9, 1-5) late Saturday. After that game, the Gators will be at Texas A&M next weekend.