Florida Gators basketball (6-1) pulled ahead early and led the Richmond Spiders (4-3) wire-to-wire on Tuesday night at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.
The 76-56 victory was UF’s performance best of the season with the opening 20 minutes an example of how the team will likely play in the future under head coach Mike White
OnlyGators.com breaks down Tuesday’s win with five quick-hitters:
Double double-doubles: A pair of players finished Tuesday’s game with double-doubles, marking the first time that two Gators did so in a single contest since Dec. 20, 2010. Redshirt sophomore center John Egbunu finished with team-highs of 17 points (7-of-9 shooting) and 14 rebounds, while sophomore forward Devin Robinson posted 12 points (4-of-10) and 13 boards. Redshirt senior F Dorian Finney-Smith came close to making it three players in double-doubles for the first time since Dec. 2005, but he fell short by a point on 3-of-12 shooting with 13 boards, seven assists and three blocks.
First half flourish: Energy, effort and intensity are the best way to describe the first 20 minutes as Florida simply took it to Richmond on both ends of the floor. The Gators ended the first half on a 17-3 run, dished nine assists on 14 made field goals and registered four blocks to take a 40-17 lead over the Spiders at the break. UF also hit 8-of-9 free throw attempts and only committed three turnovers, playing its best 20 minutes of basketball this season.
Significant stretch: Richmond ate into Florida’s advantage, which ballooned to 25 shortly after halftime, but the Gators were quick to answer back in the opening portion of the second half. An 11-0 run by Florida, in which five players contributed, put the hosts ahead 53-26 with 12 minutes to play and made it apparent that the Spiders would not have an opportunity to get back in the game.
Important injury: Robinson was forced from the court early in the second half after landing awkwardly on his left ankle. He slammed the hardwood in pain before trainers helped him to the back; he later returned to the game for UF.
Everything else: Florida roasted Richmond off the glass with a 57-36 rebound margin and 23-6 advantage in second-chance points … the Gators did not replicate their first-half success from the line, going 6-of-14 over the latter 20 minutes … UF made just 2-of-10 treys in the second half … freshman guard Kevaughn Allen added 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting … freshman C Kevarrius Hayes registered four boards in 14 minutes but also committed three fouls … Florida had 19 assists on 28 made baskets.
Florida had 3 players with 13+ rebounds tonight. They are just the 3rd major conference team in the last 20 seasons to accomplish that.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 2, 2015
The post Fastbreak: Florida Gators makes quick work of Richmond with 76-56 win in O’Dome first appeared on OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news, analysis, schedules and scores.
