FGCU MBB vs UF Recap

The FGCU men's basketball team (5-9)  fell 77-56 to RV Florida (7-4) in the Metro by T-Mobile Orange Bowl Classic Saturday night inside BB&T Center.

The Eagles saw their three-game win streak halted, while the Gators were able to improve to 7-4 on the year.

"We did some positive things primarily in the first half. We stuck to our game plan and executed both offensively and in our zone," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "We had some slippage at the very end of the first half. We then let (Florida) jump out on us in the first couple of minutes in the second half. Once you give a really good team like that a cushion, it's really hard to get back into the game."

"I want to say I'm really happy for him, then I start thinking I really should be happy for the team … but I'd be lying," Florida head coach Mike White said later Saturday. "I am happy for the team, but I'm very happy for Jalen, as well. It's been difficult for him, so it was nice to see the ball go in for him."

Sophomore Troy Baxter Jr. finished the night with a team-leading 13 points, marking his first time reaching double figures in eight games. He also pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in the contest. Senior Schadrac Casimir continued his torrid stretch from the free-throw line, ending the night with 10 points thanks in part to a 6-for-6 effort from the charity stripe.

FGCU shot 39.1 percent (18-for-46) from the field, 14.3 percent (2-for-14) from behind the 3-point line and 66.7 percent (18-for-27) from the free-throw stripe.

UF finished with a 45.2 percent (28-for-62) effort overall, 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from distance and 71.4 percent (10-for-14) at the foul marker.

Freshman Noah Locke paced the Gators with 15 points, while senior Jalen Hudson contributed 14 off the bench. Senior Kevarrius Hayes tallied 12 points, and sophomore Deaundrae Ballard added 11.

After a tightly-contested opening handful of minutes, Florida was able to secure a 23-8 advantage at the midway point of the first half.

FGCU would not go away quietly, however. The Green and Blue mounted a 14-3 run to pull within four, but the Gators edged out another mini run to close out the frame with a 37-26 lead. Florida was able to stretch its lead out to beyond the 20-mark margin in the second half, and the Eagles could not find a way back into the game the rest of the way.

"In the first half, we had a few lapses," White said of his defense. "For whatever reason, we came out salivating early in the second half; in a stance, communicating at a high level. We could hear them on the other end of the floor easier than we could hear them right in front of us in the first half. Why? So that's the challenge. Why is there a difference there? How do you get 40 minutes of that and then compliment it with making 3-balls."

Up Next:
The Eagles look to close 2018 as they prepare for their final non-conference road game as they travel to Oxford, Mississippi to face Ole Miss (9-2) at the Pavilion at Ole Miss on Saturday, December 29 at 2 p.m.