Gators Pull Away Late in Victory Over Georgia

The Florida Gators bounced back from their two game losing streak by defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 62-52. KeVaughn Allen led the Gators with 13 points, while Noah Locke added 10 points. However, it was Kevarrius Hayes who had the biggest impact on the game. The senior center had 7 points and 9 rebounds, 6 of which were offensive boards.

Nicolas Claxton paced the Bulldogs with 9 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordan Harris contributed 10 points.

#GatorsWin pic.twitter.com/Ic7Py3uLxu

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) January 19, 2019

Inconsistencies Continue

The Gators dominated the Bulldogs on both ends in the first half. They forced 8 first half turnovers and converted that into 12 points. Mike White’s squad shot 7-13 (53.8%) from beyond the arc and limited Nicolas Claxton to no points and 4 turnovers.

They also held the Bulldogs to 6-24 (25.0%) from the field and 1-7 (14.3%) from three. The Gators had a 33-23 lead at the half. Georgia’s 23 points were the fewest that they have scored in a half this season.

The second half was a completely different narrative.

The Gators’ 10-point halftime lead evaporated less than five minutes into the second half. Georgia took a 5-point lead with less than 12 minutes left in regulation, but the Gators finished the game on a 19-4 run to secure the victory.

The Bulldogs got really hot in the second half. They went 11-19 (57.9%) from the field and 4-7 (57.1%) from beyond the arc.

However, the Gators got over their typical late game inconsistencies and closed the door on the Bulldogs, scoring 12 points in the final six minutes of action.

What Went Right For the Gators?

The Gators continued to dominate on the defensive end. They forced 20 Georgia turnovers and converted that into 28 points. They also limited the Bulldogs to 19 shots in the second half and 43 overall. In contrast, the Gators attempted 56 shots and 27 three-pointers.

Florida forced Georgia into a ton of highly contested attempts late in the shot clock. Defense has been the calling card for Mike White’s group this season, and that aspect continued to shine bright in Athens on Saturday afternoon.

Kevarrius Hayes and Keyontae Johnson played like men among boys against Georgia’s big front line of Nicolas Claxton, Rayshaun Hammonds and Derek Ogbeide. They combined to grab 9 offensive rebounds and consistently made big-time hustle plays.

Johnson, who is only 6’5″, used his incredible vertical leaping abilities to grab 7 rebounds. With the unexpected departure of Keith Stone in the second half, both players came up huge down the stretch for the Gators.

KeVaughn Allen continued his dominant play in the SEC. He is averaging 15.2 points per game in conference play. He also has six straight games in double digits, including 10 of his last 11 games. He is finally playing with the confidence that made him so special during his sophomore year.

Finished on a 19-4 run over the final 9:38. #Gators go on the road & win. pic.twitter.com/x0KakD6vCl

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) January 19, 2019

What’s Next?

The Gators will look to move to 3-3 in the SEC as they take on the Texas A&M Aggies on Tuesday, January 22nd at 8:30 p.m. in College Station.