A red-faced Mike White shouted things that simply can’t be put into print and was called for a technical foul. If he knew what would have transpired after the tirade White might have purposely gotten a technical weeks ago.
The Florida Gators, trailing by as much as 21 points in the second half to Alabama, would pull it together after their coach lost his cool and opened SEC play with a 104-98 win.
“For a team as young as they are,” first-year Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the game, “To be down 21 and have the character to hang in there, tip your hat to them.”
Not only did was Florida down 14 points at halftime and 21 points in the second half, but the Gators never led in regulation. It wasn’t until a Noah Locke steal and layup with just over 20 seconds left that tied the game.
The Gators were horrific in the first half. On two separate occasions in the first half, the Gators went on 0-6 shooting slumps. As a team, they shot just 36.4% (12-33) and 1-6 (16.7%) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Gators’ defense was letting Alabama throw in half of their three-pointers (7-14) helping to extend the lead to 46-32 at the half.
The Gators got things going in the second half, improving their shooting going 16-30 (53.3%) from the field.
Leading the second-half charge was sophomore Andrew Nembhard who scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the second half and overtime. He only shot 8-of-19 but was 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
The Gators had three players record double-doubles led by Kerry Blackshear’s 7th double-double (24 points, 16 rebounds). Scottie Lewis (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Keyontae Johnson (10 points, 12 rebounds) contributed as well.
Blackshear did all of that while in foul trouble. One of the fouls, a phantom call, actually triggers White’s reaction that resulted in a technical foul. Blackshear picked up his fourth foul early in the second half but White trusted the graduate transfer down the stretch.
““He’s as smart a young man as I’ve ever coached,” White said. “He understands how to play.”
The Gators’ forced overtime and seemingly had the game sealed but Alabama kept clawing back. A three-pointer with less than 20 seconds tied the game at 92. The second overtime period was all Florida and the Gators secured an SEC opener win.
Up Next: Florida will travel to Columbia to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night. The Gators will be looking to with three-straight games for just the second time this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
Gators actually led 11-9 during regulation after an AN jump shot.