Despite Castleton’s big game, Gators fall short vs. Wildcats

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freshman Cason Wallace scored 20 points, Jacob Toppin had a double-double and Kentucky never trailed in a 72-67 victory over Florida on Saturday night.

Wallace made 7 of 10 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer and all 5 of his free throws for the Wildcats (16-7, 7-3 SEC). Toppin scored 17 on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. CJ Fredrick hit three 3-pointers and scored 12.

Wildcats star Oscar Tshiebwe totaled 4 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out. He made only 2 of 14 shots.

Florida’s Colin Castleton, who defended against Tshiebwe, finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.

“Colin has gotten so much better defensively than he was last year,” said Florida first-year coach Todd Golden. whose Gators (13-10, 6-4) had won 6 of 7 and were coming off a 67-54 win over No. 2 Tennessee.

Kyle Lofton and Will Richard scored 13 points apiece. Richard added 6 rebounds for the Gators.

Toppin and Fredrick scored 9 points apiece and Wallace added 8 as the trio accounted for all but 7 points in Kentucky’s 33-22 lead at the half.

The Wildcats scored the first 5 points of the game and pushed their lead to 20-9 on Fredrick’s three-point play at the 7:48 mark. The Gators cut their deficit to 8, but Fredrick sank a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left for the halftime margin.

Florida closed within 37-33 on a Lofton 3-pointer at the 15:44 mark, but Kentucky answered with a 6-0 run. Wallace had a three-point play to push the Wildcats’ lead to 59-45 with 8:19 remaining.

Castleton drew a fifth foul on Tshiebwe with 1:38 to go and completed the three-point play to get the Gators within 66-62. Wallace and Castleton traded baskets before Daimion Collins hit 2 free throws to give Kentucky a 70-64 lead with 51 seconds remaining.

Myreon Jones hit a 3-pointer to get the Gators within three, but he missed his next try and Wallace made 2 foul shots to wrap up the win for the Wildcats.

Wildcats coach John Calipari improved to 22-9 against Florida in a series Kentucky leads 108-41 — including a 54-11 mark at home.

JAMES CRISP/AP Florida’s Colin Castleton, who finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks, shoots against Oscar Tshiebwe and host Kentucky during the second half on Saturday night.