Riley Kugel scores 22, Florida dominates No. 12 Auburn 81-65 to strengthen NCAA tourney resume
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) How Florida won was the most surprising part of its latest upset.
Riley Kugel scored 22 points, Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 and the Gators dominated No. 12 Auburn 81-65 on Saturday to put themselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.
Florida (16-7, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) extended its home-winning streak against the slightly favored Tigers (19-5, 8-3) to 15 and picked up its second Quad 1 victory in two weeks. This one came in stunning fashion.
Florida controlled the game from the opening tip and - for a change - never let up. Coach Todd Golden’s team had lost three games this season (Wake Forest, Texas A&M and Kentucky) after leading at halftime and squandered huge leads before eking out wins against Georgia and Mississippi State late last month.
“To step on their neck and kind of put them in the ground, we needed that as a team," Clayton said. "Now we know we can do it and we’ve got to keep on doing it.”
Florida's most complete game of the season - the Gators led by as many as 29 points in the second half - should be enough to lift the team off the proverbial NCAA bubble for good.
“We're a lock, the biggest lock in the world after today,” Golden joked. "We just have to decide if we're wearing white home jerseys in the first round or putting those roadies on. In all seriousness, we're in a great spot right now.
“As quickly as it got good for us it can get bad if we don't take care of business. By no means are we content."
Zyon Pullin chipped in 19 points for the Gators, who shot 40% from the field and made 7 of 21 from 3-point range.
Florida scored the first nine points of the game and opened a 17-point lead midway through the first half thanks mostly to guard play. Clayton, Kugel and Pullin proved to be a handful for Auburn’s backcourt.
“Florida’s guard are really good, like really good, as good as anybody’s guards,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "I don’t think they’re going to lose many of those matchups.”
The Tigers’ perceived advantage in the paint with Johni Broome never materialized. Broome, who leads Auburn in scoring with 16 points a game, finished with 12 points and seven boards. He had just five points with 10 to play and missed seven of eight free throws.
K.D. Johnson also scored 12 points for the Tigers. Auburn, which last won in Gainesville in 1996, missed 14 of 17 shots from behind the arc.
“What I'm paying the price for was my first two years at Tennessee I actually beat the two-time national champion Florida Gators three out of four times," said Pearl, who fell to 3-9 in Gainesville. “That doesn't get talked about, so I have to talk about it every now and then.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Auburn could fall some in the next AP college basketball poll, but the Tigers also enjoyed an impressive home victory against rival and 16th-ranked Alabama earlier in the week.
BIG PICTURE
Auburn: Pearl said Florida's length gave his team fits inside and out. The Gators finished with 10 steals and six blocked shots.
“We didn’t’ play inside-out basketball," Pearl said. "We played inside-get-your-shot-blocked basketball.”
Florida: The Gators needed another Quad 1 win to bolster their NCAA resume. They won at Kentucky to end January and added another solid victory against the Tigers to give them a little more margin for error down the stretch.
“The prize on our head is huge," Pearl said. "A big win and a big number for Florida.”
HOMETOWN HERO
Former Florida star and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson got a standing ovation while being introduced in the first half. Richardson, a Gainesville native, sat courtside with a friend and was shown on camera dancing the team’s mascot, Alberta.
UP NEXT
Auburn hosts South Carolina on Wednesday.
Florida hosts LSU on Tuesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | (Gators gains possession) | |||
19:40 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot | 0-3 | |
19:21 | Johni Broome misses two point layup | |||
19:19 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
18:51 | Zyon Pullin misses two point layup | |||
18:49 | Zyon Pullin offensive rebound | |||
18:46 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point layup | 0-5 | |
18:34 | Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:32 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
18:09 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point layup | 0-7 | |
17:48 | Denver Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
17:46 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
17:34 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point hook shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 0-9 | |
17:17 | Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot | |||
17:15 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
17:01 | Johni Broome shooting foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
17:01 | Tyrese Samuel misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
17:01 | Tyrese Samuel misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
17:00 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
16:44 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point dunk (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 2-9 | |
16:29 | Johni Broome blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point hook shot | |||
16:27 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
16:11 | Chaney Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:09 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
15:55 | Tyrese Samuel turnover (double dribble) | |||
15:55 | TV timeout | |||
15:41 | Dylan Cardwell turnover (lost ball) (Micah Handlogten steals) | |||
15:33 | Chad Baker-Mazara shooting foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul) | |||
15:33 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-10 | |
15:33 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-11 | |
15:19 | Dylan Cardwell turnover (bad pass) | |||
15:07 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
15:05 | K.D. Johnson defensive rebound | |||
14:56 | Riley Kugel blocks Aden Holloway's three point jump shot | |||
14:54 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
14:37 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point layup | 2-13 | |
14:18 | +2 | Dylan Cardwell makes two point layup | 4-13 | |
14:09 | Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot | |||
14:07 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
14:04 | +2 | K.D. Johnson makes two point layup | 6-13 | |
14:04 | Walter Clayton Jr. shooting foul (K.D. Johnson draws the foul) | |||
14:04 | K.D. Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
14:04 | Riley Kugel defensive rebound | |||
13:44 | +3 | Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 6-16 | |
13:11 | Jaylin Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
13:09 | Dylan Cardwell offensive rebound | |||
13:05 | Thomas Haugh personal foul (Aden Holloway draws the foul) | |||
12:52 | Aden Holloway misses two point jump shot | |||
12:51 | Dylan Cardwell offensive rebound | |||
12:51 | Alex Condon personal foul (Dylan Cardwell draws the foul) | |||
12:47 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
12:45 | Chad Baker-Mazara offensive rebound | |||
12:38 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point layup | |||
12:36 | Dylan Cardwell offensive rebound | |||
12:31 | +3 | K.D. Johnson makes three point jump shot (Dylan Cardwell assists) | 9-16 | |
12:18 | +3 | Zyon Pullin makes three point jump shot | 9-19 | |
11:49 | Jaylin Williams misses two point layup | |||
11:47 | Riley Kugel defensive rebound | |||
11:38 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
11:36 | Thomas Haugh offensive rebound | |||
11:29 | Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot | |||
11:27 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | Jaylin Williams misses two point hook shot | |||
11:19 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Dylan Cardwell shooting foul (Riley Kugel draws the foul) | |||
11:09 | TV timeout | |||
11:09 | +1 | Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-20 | |
11:09 | +1 | Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-21 | |
10:49 | Denver Jones misses two point layup | |||
10:47 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Jaylin Williams misses two point hook shot | |||
10:38 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
10:29 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
10:27 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
10:03 | Jaylin Williams turnover (bad pass) (Micah Handlogten steals) | |||
9:59 | +2 | Riley Kugel makes two point dunk (Will Richard assists) | 9-23 | |
9:30 | Lior Berman misses three point jump shot | |||
9:28 | Denver Jones offensive rebound | |||
9:24 | Chaney Johnson turnover | |||
9:10 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 9-26 | |
8:48 | +2 | Chaney Johnson makes two point jump shot | 11-26 | |
8:28 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:26 | Tre Donaldson defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Tre Donaldson turnover (bad pass) (Tyrese Samuel steals) | |||
8:01 | +2 | Alex Condon makes two point jump shot | 11-28 | |
7:44 | Will Richard shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul) | |||
7:44 | TV timeout | |||
7:44 | Johni Broome misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:44 | +1 | Johni Broome makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-28 | |
7:13 | Alex Condon misses two point layup | |||
7:11 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
7:03 | Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:01 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
6:58 | Alex Condon personal foul (Chaney Johnson draws the foul) | |||
6:58 | +1 | Chaney Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-28 | |
6:58 | +1 | Chaney Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-28 | |
6:38 | Zyon Pullin misses two point layup | |||
6:36 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
6:34 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point dunk (Tre Donaldson assists) | 16-28 | |
6:34 | Walter Clayton Jr. shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul) | |||
6:34 | Johni Broome misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
6:34 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
6:18 | Tyrese Samuel turnover (3-second violation) | |||
6:06 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point jump shot | |||
6:04 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
5:53 | Alex Condon misses two point jump shot | |||
5:51 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
5:48 | +2 | Alex Condon makes two point layup | 16-30 | |
5:33 | Johni Broome turnover (bad pass) (Tyrese Samuel steals) | |||
5:25 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point layup | |||
5:23 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
5:10 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:08 | Tre Donaldson defensive rebound | |||
5:03 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot | |||
5:01 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
4:56 | Zyon Pullin turnover (lost ball) (Tre Donaldson steals) | |||
4:51 | +2 | Tre Donaldson makes two point layup | 18-30 | |
4:48 | Tigers 30 second timeout | |||
4:34 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup | 18-32 | |
4:19 | +2 | K.D. Johnson makes two point layup | 20-32 | |
4:19 | Riley Kugel shooting foul (K.D. Johnson draws the foul) | |||
4:19 | +1 | K.D. Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-32 | |
4:01 | Aden Holloway personal foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
4:01 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-33 | |
4:01 | Tyrese Samuel misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:01 | Aden Holloway defensive rebound | |||
3:55 | K.D. Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Micah Handlogten steals) | |||
3:55 | Jump ball. Walter Clayton Jr. vs. Dylan Cardwell (Gators gains possession) | |||
3:55 | TV timeout | |||
3:31 | Jaylin Williams personal foul | |||
3:31 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point jump shot | 21-35 | |
3:12 | K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
3:12 | Dylan Cardwell offensive rebound | |||
3:12 | Thomas Haugh personal foul (Dylan Cardwell draws the foul) | |||
3:12 | Dylan Cardwell misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
3:12 | Gators defensive rebound | |||
2:53 | K.D. Johnson personal foul (Zyon Pullin draws the foul) | |||
2:44 | Zyon Pullin misses two point layup | |||
2:42 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
2:38 | +2 | Micah Handlogten makes two point layup | 21-37 | |
2:22 | K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
2:13 | Riley Kugel misses two point layup | |||
2:11 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
2:08 | +2 | Micah Handlogten makes two point dunk | 21-39 | |
1:47 | +2 | K.D. Johnson makes two point layup | 23-39 | |
1:39 | +2 | Riley Kugel makes two point layup (Micah Handlogten assists) | 23-41 | |
1:13 | Micah Handlogten blocks Aden Holloway's two point layup | |||
1:11 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
1:06 | Dylan Cardwell shooting foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul) | |||
1:06 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-42 | |
1:06 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:06 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
0:48 | Tre Donaldson turnover (traveling) | |||
0:48 | Gators 30 second timeout | |||
0:37 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
0:35 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | Micah Handlogten personal foul (Johni Broome draws the foul) | |||
0:35 | Johni Broome misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:35 | Chaney Johnson offensive rebound | |||
0:34 | +2 | Chaney Johnson makes two point layup | 25-42 | |
0:34 | Will Richard shooting foul (Chaney Johnson draws the foul) | |||
0:34 | +1 | Chaney Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-42 | |
0:04 | Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot | |||
0:02 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |