Gators continue push for tourney
GAINESVILLE — Florida’s free-throw shooting buoyed the team during an otherwise poor offensive showing against Missouri.
The Gators (16-11, 8-6 SEC) rallied to defeat the visiting Tigers (12-14, 3-11 SEC) 64-60 on Saturday, earning their fourth consecutive win and bolstering the late push for an NCAA Tournament bid.
KeVaughn Allen got hot in the second half to lead Florida’s comeback, finishing with a game-high 17 points. Most of the senior guard’s points were free throws. Allen shot 9-of-10, and UF shot 25-of-30 as a team from the free-throw line, outscoring the Tigers by 17 points at the line.
“To win it a little bit differently I think is a step. Nice to see,” coach Mike White said. “And the rate at which we converted was a big factor for us.”
Trailing 62-60 with less than 10 seconds remaining, Javon Pickett had a chance to put the Tigers ahead, but his 3-point attempt was off the mark. Freshman forward Keyontae Johnson recovered the rebound for Florida and passed to Allen, who was fouled and hit both free throws to put the Gators ahead by four.
After losing close games earlier in the season to Michigan State, South Carolina and Mississippi State, the Gators have held on late to win back-to-back games, with their most recent victory on the road against then-No. 13 LSU.
“It’s just about us all coming together and wanting it more,” Allen said.
“Every game all five guys on the court keep coming together, and keep wanting it more.”
Missouri led 33-24 at halftime behind a combined 14 points from Pickett and Jordan Geist. The duo continued its offensive onslaught in the second half, finishing with 15 and 16 points, respectively.
Two of the Tigers’ starters fouled out, a testament to the Gators’ ability to draw fouls and get to the freethrow line. Missouri’s Xavier Pinson and Jeremiah Tilmon did not finish the game after fouling out in the second half.
Two of Florida’s leading scorers, freshmen Noah Locke and Andrew Nembhard, combined for just seven points.
Locke shot poorly (1-of-6 from the field), but his one made shot was a fade-away 3-pointer with 7:11 remaining to give the Gators their first lead since early in the first half.
Nembhard, on the other hand, seemed reluctant to shoot, attempting just one shot two games after scoring a career-high 21 points against Alabama. He did finish with a game-high four assists and was 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
Johnson stepped up offensively with 13 points and seven rebounds. He split a pair of free throws toward the end of the game, putting UF ahead by two and allowing Pickett the opportunity to go for the win with a 3 instead of the tie. But his presence in the paint was needed with Florida’s big men dealing with foul trouble for much of the game.
After Hayes and Dontay Bassett were called for early fouls, White went with redshirt freshman forward Isaiah Stokes, who provided six points and two assists off the bench. Stokes played a career-high 18 minutes.
“It’s always a process coming off a major knee injury,” Stokes said. “I’m taking advantage of the minutes I’m getting and playing hard.”
Florida has four games left before the SEC Tournament and will ride its fourgame win streak into Nashville on Wednesday night against Vanderbilt.