The Florida Gators (24-6, 14-3 SEC) came away with a 78-65 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks (22-8, 11-6 SEC) in the final home game of the season on Wednesday night.
It was an emotional night, as Florida’s four seniors, Kasey Hill, Canyon Barry, Schuyler Rimmer and Justin Leon, were honored. Mike White rewarded his veterans by starting all four of them, along with sophomore KeVaughn Allen, for the first time this season.
The Gators started the game off strong, taking a quick 14-6 lead over the Razorbacks, as each senior scored within the first four minutes. Florida went up by 10, leading 18-8 with 14:43 remaining in the half, and would lead by double-digits the rest of the half. The Gators would go up by as many as 16 and took a 41-28 lead to the locker room.
Florida was shot 56 percent (10-for-27) from the field in the first half and 50 percent (5-for-10) from beyond the arc, with two three-pointers coming from KeVaughn Allen and three more from Barry.
The Gators were much better on the boards to start the game than they were in the poor rebounding performance at Kentucky, taking a 24-13 advantage in the first 20 minutes.
Arkansas threatened a couple of times in the second half, but never came closer than within six points of the lead. The first Arkansas run to make it a 51-45 game was quickly silenced by a Barry jumper and a Devin Robinson three on back-to-back possessions.
The Razorbacks would continue to put up a fight, coming within seven-points in the final five minutes of the game, but Florida once again answered. Hill went on to score seven of Florida’s final 12 points, an appropriate way to end his four-year career in the O’Dome.
Four Gators, including two seniors, finished with double-figures. Canyon Barry led Florida in scoring with 14 points in a 5-for-11 performance that included 3-for-8 from three. Hill, KeVaughn Allen and Chris Chiozza all finished with 12 points.
Kevarrius Hayes led the Gators on defense and nearly reached a double-double, with six points and eight rebounds. Hayes also had three blocks in the game. Florida finished with six blocks and had a much better night inside with a 38-26 advantage in points in the paint.
Coming Up Next:
Florida will play its final game of the regular season at Vanderbilt on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Gators lost the first game in this matchup 68-66 at home and will look to return the favor to the Commodores.