Written by Adrian Beecher
Athens, GA – The Florida Gators weathered a 2nd half Bulldogs comeback bid, to take a 62-52 win at Stegeman Coliseum. Early on the triple was the catalyst for the Gators and in the 2nd half, down the stretch, it was the defensive presence.
It was a slow start for both teams as they opened their first two possessions without baskets. Kevarrius Hayes was able to get the first points of the game on the board as he put in a layup for the Gators 3:13 into the first period. Then, two minutes later Kevaugh Allen put in a triple to make it 5-0 Florida as we reached the under 16-minute timeout.
Out of the timeout, Allen sunk another triple to make it 8-0. The first point of the game for the Bulldogs would follow as Jordan Harris made the back end of two free throws 4:51 into the 1st half making it 8-1. Shortly after, their first field goal of the game would come as Tyree Crump put in a layup to make it 9-3 with the Gators on top with 14:20 left in the half.
The success from beyond the arc would continue for Florida as they started the 1st half 4-6 from long range and held a 16-5 lead over the Bulldogs with 11:47 left in the half. Back to back offensive fouls by Jalen Hudson would momentarily slow the Gators momentum as Georgia took this opportunity to open up a 7-0 run as they cut the deficit to just 4 with 10:25 left in the half!
After a timeout, UF was able to put a halt to the run as Keyontae Johnson put in a layup to push their lead back to 6. This was then followed up by a triple from Noah Locke, making it a 21-12 lead for the Gators.
The Gators would hold strong down the stretch as they stayed hot from long range. At the half, Florida held a 33-23 lead over Georgia, thanks in part to a 7 of 13 performance from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs had found most of their success at the line in the 1st half hitting 10 of 12 from the charity stripe UGA also dominated the boards with 21 rebounds to just 14 for the Gators.
In the 2nd half, the Bulldogs had the sights set on a comeback and started with a fire in their eyes. Claxton put in a quick jumper to start what was a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to just 3 as William Jackson drained a triple and the Gators took a timeout just 1:27 into the 2nd half.
“These guys turned it on in the second half,” said Georgia head coach Tom Crean, “They came out with a different level of intensity and awareness. We were cutting. I was almost hoarse trying to get them to cut off slots in the 1st half.”
Out of the timeout, Jordan Harris took a steal the other way and found his way to the charity stripe, where he was able to make it a two-point game. Then it was Florida dialing back in, as Deaundrea Ballard drained the Gators 8th triple of the game to push the lead back to five.
However, the Bulldogs weren’t about to go away as the heated up. Claxton drained a triple and was followed suit by Jackson and Hightower as Georgia tied things up at 40 with 15:40 left in the 2nd. Shortly after, a tip-in from E’torrion Wilridge put the Bulldogs on top for the first time of the night at 42-40.
Florida head coach Mike White expressed his frustration with his team’s performance to start the 2nd half. ” It’s very disappointing that we couldn’t get a stop early in the 2nd half, but I felt that our guys eventually regained some composure, defensive poise, and discipline down the stretch.”
A basket and a free throw from Keyontae Johnson would put UF back on top 43-42 with 12:01 left in the game. After trading the lead back and forth, Florida got back on top with a triple from Locke and a jumper from Dontay Bassett, making it 52-48.
A timeout by Georgia didn’t do what it was aimed for, as the Gators added a triple from Allen to take a 55-48 lead with under four minutes left to play. In the final four minutes, Florida would shut down the Bulldogs, who only would muster up four more points.
“It’s kind of an odd defensive effort where we’re getting torched for 11 minutes and then really defended at a high level to close out the game for the last nine or so minutes,” said coach White.
In the final 15:40 of the game UGA was only able to tally 12 points, and they turned the ball over 12 times in the 2nd half alone.
This marks the Bulldogs 3rd straight loss and 4th in SEC play, and it doesn’t get any easier as they head on the road next Wednesday to face LSU and then return home Saturday, January 26th for a matchup with Texas.
The Bulldogs need to adjust quickly before they get stuck in the roll of an avalanche.
“We saw what can happen in the 2nd half.” said a positive Crean, “When we bear down and play the right way with a spirit and a toughness, that’s going to make us different.”
