Florida Gators Fall in Defeat to Texas A&M in First SEC Home Game, 66-63

The Gators SEC home-opener ends in heartbreak as they drop their seventh recreation of the 12 months to Texas A&M.

In a recreation characterised by sloppy offense and an abundance of foul calls, the Florida Gators’ second-half comeback makes an attempt on the Texas A&M Aggies proved to no avail for the second-straight contest within the sequence. Because of this, UF dropped to .500 on the 12 months by the use of the 66-63 defeat.

The Gators got here in seeking to snap a two-game dropping streak in an outing Todd Golden deemed essential for the season’s future.

Florida did not current the depth and power {that a} pivotal recreation normally brings.

Actually, the unit began sluggishly towards a Texas A&M squad that pulled no punches all through. Florida shot simply 37.5% from the sector and 20% from past the arc within the first half.

Consequently, the Gators fell down by 11 heading into the halftime break. 

Unable to search out any offensive success on account of a suffocating and relentless Texas A&M press variation, Florida donned simply 23 factors subsequent to its emblem 20 minutes into the competition. The first catalyst for the scoring inefficiency rested inside the Aggies’ recreation plan to double-team Colin Castleton when he touched within the low submit. Castleton struggled in that situation as he was pestered with swiping palms from a number of angles.

Nevertheless, his teammates’ lack of rotation and off-ball motion resulted in errant passes and stagnant offense all through the primary interval.

Castleton tallied 4 of the Gators’ 9 complete first-half turnovers, because of this.

Nevertheless, when the 2 squads returned from the locker room, the Gators compiled their greatest run of the competition, producing eight unanswered in a minute and a half to chop the one-time double-digit result in three. Trey Bonham, Will Richard and Kyle Lofton contributed by flattening pictures from the sector throughout that concerted surge.

After a quick back-and-forth that noticed the Aggies preserve that small margin, Bonham knocked down his third shot from downtown of the competition to knot it up at 39.

Texas A&M was capable of rebuild their lead again as much as 9, however the Gators continued to storm again behind the taking pictures excellence of Bonham. His 21 factors propelled the Gators all through and stored them inside placing distance ultimately.

Florida minimize the deficit but once more after being put in that nine-point gap to take the lead with 5:49 remaining after an old style three-point play by Castleton on the within. Richard made that chance doable with nook three on the earlier possession to make it a two-point recreation.

The massive man performed a supplementary position for UF as he posted 14 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists and 4 blocks.

Nevertheless, the duo mixed for 13 turnovers (seven for Bonham, six for Castleton) on the day.

Free throws had a serious influence for each groups down the stretch as they every entered double-bonus vary with over six minutes remaining. They completed with 29 mixed fouls within the second half.

Tyrese Radford‘s late-game look to the free throw line made it the three-point margin that might maintain on the closing buzzer.

The sport got here to a head within the closing seconds because the Aggies took a two-point lead with 42 seconds remaining. With a number of alternatives to tie the sport, the Gators failed to attach on the ultimate basket makes an attempt and fell at house to Buzz Williams’ Texas A&M squad. 

A cost name on Bonham sealed the deal for Florida with seven seconds remaining as Florida despatched Radford to the road on the following inbound to formally seal the deal.

The Gators will flip round to retake Billy Donovan Court docket on Saturday afternoon as they face off with former head coach Mike White and the Georgia Bulldogs within the second leg of the two-game house stretch. 

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