Chiozza steal, layup seals win
Chris Chiozza’s flair for the dramatic carried the day once again for the Gators.
Another last-second shot by UF’s senior point guard led the Gators to another big win on national TV.
Chiozza’s steal and breakaway layup during the final seconds of a 77-75 win at Missouri capped UF’s fifth straight win and a furious second-half comeback led Chiozza and Jalen Hudson.
In a game televised on CBS, UF trailed by 12 points during the first half. But the Gators chipped away at the deficit and tied the game 75-75 on a two free throws by Hudson after Missouri fouled him during a 3-point attempt.
Following a Tigers’ timeout, Chiozza jumped the passing lane and stole a pass intended for Mizzou point guard Jordan Geist.
With the clocking running down, Chiozza calmly scored a layup with less than a second remaining to stun the Tigers’ crowd.
“I knew I had plenty of time left,” Chiozza said. “I wanted to slow down to make sure I didn’t trip or anything.”
The play comes 10 months after Chiozza earned a place in Gators’ lore with a buzzerbeating jump shot to beat Wisconsin during the Sweet 16.
Florida coach Mike White was asked if he had ever coached a game with a finish as wild as the Gators’ win over Missouri.
White initially didn’t think so, then recalled last season’s NCAA Tournament regional semifinal against Wisconsin, when Chiozza hit a running 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer to lift the Gators to an 84-83 victory.
“Very, very similar, with the same guy,” White said.
“He’s really smart. He’s an extremely quick thinker. He’s got extremely quick feet. He’s fast. He understands the game. He’s an older guard. He just happened to sniff it out. It was a gamble that paid off.”
Chiozza has been on a tear of late and ended Saturday with 13 points — all in the second half — and six assists.
Hudson had a team-high 16 points while senior guard Egor Koulechov added 15 points and eight rebounds. Redshirt sophomore forward Keith Stone scored 13 points following an 18-point effort last Tuesday at Texas A&M.
The Gators (11-4, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed by 12 points in the first half before rallying to take a 36-35 halftime lead. The Tigers (11-4, 1-1) rebuilt their lead in the second half, opening a 70-62 advantage with 6:31 remaining when Jeremiah Tilmon beat the shot clock with a turnaround jumper off an inbounds play.
Florida again came back and tied it at 75 with 22.2 seconds left when Hudson made two of three free throws after he drew a foul from Kassius Robertson on a 3-point attempt. Robertson protested the foul call, which was one of a few in the second half that drew a rise out of Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin and the home crowd.
After the game, Martin seemed particularly upset about freshman forward Tilmon fouling out in only eight minutes of action.
“I guess I have to keep my mouth closed,” Martin said. “I don’t want to say anything. But very, very tough for me. Very tough for me — you know what I’m saying. It was one of the toughest ones I’ve ever been a part of.”
After a spotty nonconference season, the Gators have started SEC play well, with back-to-back road wins over quality opponents.
Florida beat 11th-ranked Texas A&M 83-66 on Tuesday.
The Gators will aim for their fourth consecutive SEC victory when they host Mississippi State on Wednesday.