The Vanderbilt Commodores seemingly have the Florida Gators number on the basketball court as Vandy earns their sixth straight win over Florida with a 72-62 overtime win in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday night. A poor shooting night for the Gators cost them in the end as Mike White moves to 0-5 as Florida’s head coach in the head-to-head match up with the Commodores.
Things weren’t all bad for Florida in their opening game of the SEC tournament as they jumped out to a five point lead at the mid-way point of the first half. However the lead would not last till the half as the Commodores outscored the Gators 15-9 in the last six minutes of the half to lead at halftime 33-28.
Kasey Hill and Keith Stone lead all Gators scorers at the half with six points apiece, but a 1-9 shooting performance from three point range in the first half doomed Florida, and things didn’t look much better in the second half for Florida.
The Gators struggled for a majority of the second half as the Commodores held the lead till the final two minutes of the half where Florida went on an 8-0 run to tie the game with just over a minute to play. The two teams traded free throws, and headed for overtime.
Vandy’s offense came out firing in the extra period on a couple of big three pointers by Nolan Cressler and Riley LaChance, who led all scorers with 18 points. Vanderbilt outscored Florida 14-4 in the extra frame, and shot 43% from the field for the game including a perfect 5-5 from the floor in OT.
The Gators shot 34% from the field, and 26% from three (6-23). Kevaughn Allen and Kasey Hill led the Gators with 16 points a piece.
Florida will await their place in the NCAA Tournament on selection Sunday.
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