The Florida Gators basketball team (13-6, 5-2 SEC) demolished the Auburn Tigers (9-9, 3-4 SEC) on Saturday night by 32 points, taking their fifth conference win 95-63.
Despite Florida winning the tip, the Gators quickly turned it over resulting in a basket from Kareem Canty. If the first minutes of the game dictated the game, it looked as if this would be a back-and-forth battle. However, the Gators refused to have Auburn, a team that’s 1-5 on the road, take them down easily.
The Gators quickly responded with early three-balls from Justin Leon and Dorian Finney-Smith, with Finney-Smith not missing a single shot in the first half. Doe-Doe was able to log 15 points and 6 rebounds before halftime.
After tying the game up at five with a trey from Finney-Smith, the Gators went on an 18-0 run ending with two free throws from Devin Robinson with 13:139 left in the half.
Florida gave up a few baskets, but played relentlessly and letting them get as high as a 25-point lead at three different points in the first half. The Gators were able to hold on to their over 20-point lead as they headed to the locker room for halftime at 53-32.
Coming back for the second half, Chris Chiozza came out and made the first basket extending Florida’s lead to 23 just over 30 seconds into the half. From there, the Gators allowed a few baskets here and there and managed to foul out Horace Spencer who played only 13 minutes.
The Gators refused to let the Tigers get any closer than 20 points in the second half, getting as high as a 32-point lead twice. By the final minutes of the game, the Gators had the stands on their feet after back-to-back dunks by Kasey Hill and Justin Leon leaving the Gators with a 91-61 lead with 2:45 left.
Familiar chants of “we want Zach [Hodskins]” echoed throughout the O’Dome because at this point the Gators were just showing off. The Rowdy Reptiles got their wish as Hodskins checked in at the 1-minte mark.
The Gators were forcing Tiger turnovers and attacking the basket with such confidence that resulted in them getting an at-home victory of 95-63.
Florida had five different players scoring in double digits on Saturday night. Dorian Finney-Smith finished with 24 points and 8 rebounds, point guards Kasey Hill and Chris Chiozza each put up 14, Egbunu had 12 and Allen had 11.
This victory wrapped up the Gators short streak of home games as they will hit the road to play Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, January 26 at 9 p.m.
Vandy game, Tuesday the 26th at 9? Or Friday the 29th at 9?