With 16 seconds left in the game, Angel Rodriguez dribbled between his legs, crossed to his left and shot a deep three-pointer over Kasey Hill to set up an unpredictable comeback.
Rodriguez’s game-winning shot hit the back iron and fell in, giving the Miami Hurricanes (2-0) a one-point lead as it was enough to take down the No.8 Florida Gators (1-1) 69-67 snapping a 33-game winning streak in the Stephen O’Connell Center Monday night.
The Hurricanes collected a crucial offensive rebound on a prior shot missed by Rodriguez, but called a timeout to strategize a second chance to put Miami back up.
“I had made a couple of plays prior to that final shot and coach called a timeout and I told him to give me the ball,” Rodriguez said. “He trusted me and I told him to give me the ball please before he even talked to the coaches and make up a play. I want to thank him and my teammates for trusting me.”
To begin the game up to halftime, Rodriguez had a cold shot going only 1 of 5 from the floor and having just two points. What seemed like a player to watch for the Canes, just went absent and struggled.
But the second half came and he turned his game around, remaining resilient and eventually giving his team the win. The Kansas State transfer totaled 20 points in the last seven minutes of the game and finished with 24 points and made 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
“In the first half I only had two points and didn’t play as well,” Rodriguez said on his first half performance. “My team kept lifting me up and telling me come one, we need you and it’s not over. So I have to give them tremendous credit for trusting me.”
Florida attempted to retrieve back the lead when guard Eli Carter, who totaled 21 points and shot 8-of-9 from the field, drove into the lane jumped up to find Miami’s Rodriguez who took an offensive foul, which caused Carter to foul out.
With only 2.3 seconds left on the clock the Canes would make one free throw and seal the victory as Michael Frazier II’s desperation jumper banked off the glass and out of the rim.
The Gators blew a 15-point lead that they established at halftime and truly the defensive questions surrounding the team were on display as the Canes led a comeback run to earn a victory.
Florida head coach Billy Donovan said the team became stagnant on offense and their defensive performance in the second half can’t happen.
“Our defense was not at the level that it needed to be and how much of that was fatigue, I can’t put my finger on it,” Donovan said. “I don’t know if the right word is lazy, or careless, or easy way out. I don’t know how we could do it in the first half and not do it in the second half and that’s why I think fatigue was potentially a factor.”
Donovan also mentioned he could sum up the loss it would be between Angel Rodriguez’ gameplay toward the end of the game and the amount of fouls Florida gave to send Miami to the free throw line.
Florida forward Dorian Finney-Smith was removed from the starting lineup as Jacob Kurtz replaced him scoring six points and having eight rebounds and Donovan didn’t have intentions of putting him in the game.
Finney-Smith warmed up pregame, but wore a brace on his hand and never checked into the game. As a result, the Gators missed his offensive support.
This game marked a similar situation last year, when Florida played a talented Wisconsin team as the second game of the season and also was defeated.
“Not that I want to see our guys lose, but they need to learn what really goes into winning,” Donovan said. “As much as that is hard for me to say, they just don’t have great clue and understanding.”
The Gators now look ahead to their second game this week as they matchup against Lousiana-Monroe on Friday. The Hurricanes will return home to face Drexel.
Being highly-ranked and taking a early loss to begin the season, Florida must put aside a tough loss at home and focus for what’s ahead.
“Guys have to get over it quickly and get on to the next one,” Jon Horford said. “It’s the beginning of the season, we will keep getting better every day and everything will work out.”