Photograph: Myreon Jones; Credit score: Zach Goodall
Fifth-year senior guard Myreon Jones shined to publish a close to triple-double as Florida rolled over SEC foe South Carolina, 81-60.
Jones, who’s proved to be a catalyst for Florida’s current success, showcased his facilitation expertise in his third straight begin to kickstart the offense from its season-long struggles with eight assists and 0 assists. His effectivity encompassed UF’s as an entire on Wednesday night.
He added 9 factors, together with an And-1 end off a dime from Colin Castleton, and a team-leading 10 rebounds in arguably his career-best outing donning orange and blue threads, catalyzing Florida’s success from begin to end.
Florida restricted a sluggish begin that has plagued it in convention play for the second consecutive look.
After Castleton gained the tip, start line guard Kyle Lofton introduced the ball up the courtroom trying to arrange within the half-court offense. Simulating a decide and roll on the prime of the important thing, Lofton pressed into the Gamecocks’ protection earlier than presenting Castleton with a lob.
The Florida large man snatched the ball out of the air and slammed it residence to make an early assertion.
That set the tone for a way Florida would take the sport to South Carolina within the first half, posting 34 factors on 45.2% capturing from the ground in 20 minutes.
That aggressive mindset carried all through the sport.
Scroll to Proceed
On the finish of the primary half, Golden tapped into his analytical background as he hurried Lofton up the courtroom because the clock ticked below 50 seconds with intentions of getting a two-for-one scoring alternative. The fifth-year guard discovered a possibility for Jason Jitoboh on the within, who knocked down his shot try with 34.1 seconds remaining.
The Gators held agency on the defensive finish to regain possession with 4.6 seconds left within the half. Assistant Kevin Hovde drew up a play to get Jones sprinting downcourt with a transparent imaginative and prescient of the courtroom. He discovered Reeves on the left wing for a wide-open look from past the arc.
Whereas Reeves failed to attach, it confirmed their intent to maintain making use of stress.
That was evident as Florida shot at 48% from the sphere within the second half, hovering across the 47% clip on the sport. They continued to supply an onslaught of factors from inside and past the three-point line to outscore the Gamecocks 47 to 34 within the remaining 20 minutes.
Castleton (18), Reeves (15), Lofton, (10), Will Richard (10) and Riley Kugel (14) every eclipsed the double-digit factors marks.
Consequently, Todd Golden completes the sweep of wins in opposition to yr one head coaches within the SEC, sitting at 5-0 after the victory over Lamont Paris’ Gamecocks. Rematches with Georgia’s Mike White and LSU’s Matt McMahon will come on the finish of the common season.
The victory aligns with the momentum-building win Florida looked for as a tricky four-game stretch stares the unit within the face.
Florida heads to Manhattan, Kan., to tackle former wing Keyontae Johnson and the No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats of their subsequent contest on Saturday evening. The assembly is part of the longstanding Massive 12/SEC problem.
Keep tuned to All Gators for steady protection of Florida Gators soccer, basketball and recruiting. Observe alongside on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports activities Illustrated on Fb.
Get your Gators soccer, basketball and different sporting occasions tickets from SI Tickets right here.