Six things to know: Florida embarrasses LSU again as basketball sets three-point record

By Adam Silverstein
January 25, 2017
Six things to know: Florida embarrasses LSU again as basketball sets three-point record
Basketball

Image Credit: ESPN Images

No. 25 Florida Gators basketball (14-5, 5-2 SEC) suffered through a rough week with consecutive losses but somehow remained in the AP Top 25 when the dust settled on Monday. Just a day later, the Gators proved that voters’ faith in them was deserved when they obliterated the LSU TigersOnlyGators.com breaks down the latest win below.


It was over when … Leading just 11-10 early in the first half, the Gators made seven straight field goals — six of which were triples — as part of a 24-6 run that put the visitors up 19 points. Florida went on to finish the first half 11-of-15 from beyond the arc, taking a 58-33 lead into the break. There was no chance of a comeback in the second half, but a 6-0 stretch with back-to-back fastbreak dunks by Robinson to put Florida up 37 midway through the period completely demoralized the home team.

Exceptional effort: Junior forward Devin Robinson has not had a tremendous season to this point, but he was incredible on Tuesday night. Robinson scored a career- and game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, making 5-of-8 threes and adding eight boards in his starring performance. With graduate transfer guard Canyon Barry sidelined with a sprained ankle, Florida needed someone to step up and score, and Robinson answered the call. He wound up being one of six UF players to score in double figures, the most impressive of which was freshman G Eric Hester, who only took five threes on the evening but drained all of them and finished with 16 points.

Significant stats: One week after going 0-for-17 from beyond the arc, the Gators attempted 33 shots from long range and hit 19 of them. Florida also outrebounded 39-31, a rarity this season, and had 24 assists on 36 made baskets.

Odds and ends: The 106 points scored by Florida were the most in a game in regulation since Nov. 25, 2011 and most on the road in regulation since Nov. 28, 2001 … it marked the first time the Gators eclipsed 100 points against an SEC opponent in regulation since Jan. 16, 2002 (vs. LSU) … the 19 threes were the second most ever in an SEC game, one shy of Kentucky’s mark of 20 against LSU in 1995 … junior point guard Chris Chiozza made three triples on Tuesday and notched a career-high 10 assists … senior PG Kasey Hill was an insane +32 on the evening while on the court

What it means: Not much. The Gators were supposed to win this game handily and did, though the margin was certainly greater than anyone could have expected. Florida improves to 15-1 against unranked opponents on the season but did notch a road victory to start what should be a long week for the team.

Up next: The Gators will not return to Gainesville, Florida, and instead remain on the road as they prepare for their their second of two straight games away from the home. Florida will play at Oklahoma as part of the 2017 SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday in a game that will air live nationally at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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