Another Win for the Gators
The Gators men’s basketball team took another win tonight, improving their season to 2-0. Florida dominated the UNF Ospreys with a 40 point win of 108-68. The Ospreys are now 0-4 for the season.
The Gators started off strong leading most of the first half by double digits and into the second there was no change. Junior shooting guard KeVaughn Allen came out strong opening up with a thre point shot and he kept up the momentum throughout the night, leading six Gators in double figures with 18 points including this tone setting slam.
Triple digits again. Big win again. 🔥🎥 Highlights 👇. #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/gxGBvmjAyN
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) November 17, 2017
Forward Keith Stone scored 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, making both his three-point attempts. Transfer Egor Kaulechov scored 13, and grabbed nine rebounds and had five assists. Sophomore Gorjok Gak, got his first career start with a total of 11 minutes on the court and scored a total 12 points. Gak went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, but it wasn’t really until the second half where he brought that energy, something coach Mike White wants him to work on.
The Gators closed the first half with a 45-23 lead, shooting 18 of-36 from the floor and 6 of-16 from beyond the arc.
As for the Ospreys, sophomore Trip Day led with 14 points with Ivan Gandia-Rosa trailing right behind at 12 points. Two other players also scored in double digits. UNF coach Matthew Driscoll said coming into Gainesville today instead of a day early may have been something that negatively influenced his guys, but either way said he knew it would be a tough game having to face number eight Florida, who is an explosive team.
Second Half
The Gators continued to pour in the points, and with 3:43 left the Gators led by 40 points with the score at 100-60. In all, Florida shot 55 percent from the floor and 44 percent from the 3-point line.
“In all my years of coaching, and this is my 30th year of coaching, this is probably one of the most unselfish teams that has so many guys that can score the ball,” Driscoll said of the Gators.
This was something that showed tonight, with every Gator scoring in this game. Mak Krause and Andrew Fava got their first career points for Florida as Krause made a free throw and Fava made a layup.
Fava was on 🔥🔥🔥 tonight!! #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/zIAITN4P9t
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) November 17, 2017
Overall
Coach White said it is important to maintain the intensity on the defensive side and get out of their comfort zones in order to make key shots.
He said after the game in the locker room this was his first and longest message to the guys.
As for the offense side, Coach White said he likes where they’re at right now. He also restated what UNF coach mentioned about how important the unselfishness of the players on the Florida team has been.
Next Up for the Gators
The Gators look for their third win of the season at the O’Dome Sunday night hosting the University of New Hampshire Wildcats who are 1-1 this season. This will be the first time the Gators have faced UNH since 2001.