FINAL: Texas Christian 84, No. 10 Florida 80

What Happened

SAN DIEGO – Texas Christian guard Brock Harding broke a tie game with a short jumper with 50 seconds to go, then hit four free throws over the final 13 seconds, as the Horned Frogs wiped out a 10-point second-half deficit Thursday to upset 10th-ranked and reigning NCAA champion Florida 84-80 in opening-round play of the Rady Children's Invitational at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Junior guard Urban Klavzar led the Gators with 20 points off the bench, including four 3-pointers, while junior forward Thomas Haugh scored 20 as well, but the story of the game was how TCU's aggressive defense forced 19 turnovers (that led to 22 points) and how the Horned Frogs got easy looks against the UF defense on the way to shooting 58% in the second half and going 15-for-20 (75%) from inside the 3-point line.

Harding scored 19 points, dished 12 assists and had five of his team's 12 steals. Backup forward Jace Posey came off the bench to lead all scorers with 21 points, going six of eight from the floor and nine of 11 from the free-throw line. Forward David Punch had 19 points and nine rebounds.

The Gators, after a foul-marred first half when they led by two at intermission, built a 10-point cushion five minutes into the second, but the Frogs came hopping back and and retook the lead. UF, behind Klavzar's hot hand, managed to climb back up by six, but TCU, with Posey working the Gators in the post, came back to go ahead 75-74 on a driving layup by Micah Robinson with 3:14 remaining.

UF tied the game at 77 on a Boogie Fland (12 points, 3 steals, fouled out) driving layup, but after a swap of turnovers Harding got into the paint and hit his go-ahead bucket.

Florida had a chance to take the lead, but junior forward Alex Condon (8 points, 8 rebounds, career-high 8 assists) missed a late-clock 3-pointer and Rueben Chinyelu was called for a flagrant foul with 13 seconds to go. Harding made both free throws, then one of two on the extra possession for a five-point advantage with 11.9 seconds left.

UF sophomore point guard **Boogie Fland** (0) on the attack Thursday against TCU.

Turning Point

UF used a run of seven straight to go ahead 53-43 in the second half, but instead of putting their foot down the Gators got careless with the ball and allowed TCU to reel off six straight points to start a 15-6 run that gave the Horn Frogs the momentum to finish out.

Staggering Statistic

TCU shooting 75% from inside the arc and outscoring UF 44-34 in the paint was a surprise.

Up Next

Florida (4-2) will face either Wisconsin (4-1) or Providence (4-2) -- the two played in event's second game -- in the tournament consolation game Friday at noon.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.

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