Can’t finish the job
Gators push No. 10 Spartans but fall short
GAINESVILLE – The basketball and game were up for grabs as Florida Gators coach Mike White watched helplessly from the sideline.
A late-game rally born of hustle and grit Saturday against Michigan State would fizzle when the Gators failed to dig deep one more time.
Amid the scramble, Spartans wing Kyle Ahrens tracked down the ball in the corner before driving to the basket for a two-handed dunk with 8.7 seconds remaining to deal the Gators a 63-59 defeat.
In the wake of another close loss, White was beside himself over the missed opportunity — the last on a day filled with them.
“We didn't get on the floor for that loose ball, like several others,” UF's coach fumed. “They did. We didn't deserve to win.”
The Gators (5-4) reached the final minute against the 10th-ranked Spartans (8-2) with a chance for an upset, along with a signature win during a frustrating season. UF overcame a first-half stretch of nearly eight minutes without a basket and Michigan State's formidable inside game and turned to freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard down the stretch.
Aherns, a junior backup with a career beset by injuries, ultimately made the game-winning plays for the Spartans.
Scoreless all day, Ahrens tallied the Spartans' final seven points, beginning with a 3-pointer and ending with his dunk to ice the game as the 30-second shot clock expired.
“He's waited a long time to have a day like this — it seems like forever,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “Those were some big baskets.”
UF had its chances late thanks to Nembhard, who showed the leadership and poise down the stretch that the Gators have lacked this season.
“He stepped into that role,” center Kevarrius Hayes said. “I look forward to see more of it. He was doing a lot of work.”
Nembhard scored four of his team's last seven baskets and assisted on two others. A layup with 1:21 remaining cut Michigan State's lead to 61-59.
But with an energetic crowd of 10,423 at the O'Connell Center and a national TV audience tuned in on CBS, the Gators could not complete the comeback and suffered their third loss by six points or fewer this season.
With a chance to tie the game, a missed layup by senior shooting guard KeVaughn Allen on a wild drive with 54 seconds remaining was the Gators' final legitimate scoring opportunity.
Allen was coming off a 19-point game during Tuesday's win against West Virginia in Madison Square Garden and opened Saturday with back-to-back baskets to give UF a 5-0 lead. Allen, though, would finish 5-of-15 shooting for 13 points.
Meanwhile, fifth-year senior guard Jalen Hudson's struggles continued. He finished with four points in 15 minutes of action.
“We've got to get to where our best scorers consistently play with aggressiveness and confidence,” White said. “If we don't, we're going to continue to be riding the wave offensively of being good and not so good.”
The Gators also had no answer for Michigan State's 1-2 inside punch of Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound Ward and 6-8, 245-pound Tillman combined for 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting.
“It was amazing,” Nembhard said of the Spartans duo. “They're probably the best we'll see all season.”
The Spartans finished shooting 51 percent from the field, including 60.9 percent to build a 35-27 halftime lead.
But a storied program known for its discipline and physicality had 15 turnovers, including 10 in the first half, and managed just a 36-33 rebounding edge. UF finished with 16 offensive rebounds — twice its season average.
“They kicked our butt at that,” Izzo said. “Not too many teams do.”
White called it the day's biggest positive for the Gators.
“We played with a lot of energy attacking the offensive glass,” he said.
The Gators summoned the strength to stage a second-half comeback. UF trailed by as many as 12 points and four times cut the lead to four before a three-point play by Hayes pulled the Gators to within 52-50. From there, though, UF could not come up with a game-winning play. Izzo felt fortunate to get one.
“It wasn't the prettiest game we played,” he said. “Florida had a lot to do with that. I'm going to take the win and get out of here.”
Mann powers No. 11 Florida St.
NEWARK, N.J. — Terance Mann scored 20 points, reserve David Nichols had 16 and the 11th-ranked Seminoles beat Connecticut 79-71 on Saturday night in the second game of the Never Forget Tribute Classic.
Mfiondu Kabengele added 15 points for Florida State (8-1), and Christ Koumadje finished with seven points and 10 rebounds. Alterique Gilbert led UConn (7-3) with 24 points. Jalen Adams had 15, and Tarin Smith finished with 12 points. The Seminoles opened the second half with a 10-1 run to increase their lead to 49-34 with 17:26 to play.