Florida Frontcourt Leads Gators to Season Sweep of Missouri, 83-74
Photo: Florida forward Tyrese Samuel; Credit: Zach Goodall
On a relatively sluggish shooting night for the Gators in Gainesville, at least in the first half, Florida (20-8, 10-5 SEC) leaned on frontcourt members Tyrese Samuel and Micah Handlogten to notch their 20th win of the 2023-24 campaign.
The duo combined for 40 points and 22 rebounds en route to the 83-79 win over the Missouri Tigers (8-20, 0-15 SEC) while producing respective double-doubles.
Starting point guard Zyon Pullin supplemented the frontcourt effort with 21 points of his own, including 17 on three made three-pointers in the second half.
Florida sweeps Missouri in the two-game season series between the SEC foe as a result.
But it didn't come as easily as the 13.5-point spread initially suggested it would.
Finishing a tightly contested first half just 37% from the floor and 20% from beyond the arc, Florida used a strong defensive showing — holding Missouri to 28 points in the first 20 minutes — to enter the locker break ahead by nine, 37-28.
When the two units returned, Mizzou cut the deficit significantly.
But, the Gators answered before the Tigers were able to pull even, reeling off a 12-2 run over 1:51 to extend the lead to 11, its largest of the night. The surge included two triples by Pullin and Walter Clayton Jr., as well as buckets by Sameul and Handlogten at the rim.
Missouri remained pesky despite the UF advantage, closing the gap again to as little as one, while Florida aimed to regain its groove after Clayton's day ended with 14:08 remaining — receiving a technical after his fourth foul of the contest.
He finished with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds.
Despite two opportunities to take the lead with under nine minutes remaining, the Tigers failed.
Guard Will Richard connected on his first field goal of the day from the corner closest to the Gators bench, allowing UF to retake a two-possession lead. Pullin followed his lead to knock down another three on the ensuing possession to maintain the advantage just prior to a Tigers' timeout.
Samuel retook control of the contest out of the break, posting seven straight points for the Gators, including an emphatic jam over Tigers big man Connor Vanover.
Missouri went blow for blow with Florida down the stretch, as it shot 61.5% from the floor in the second half, but Samuel's career-high 28 points — including 14 in the final seven minutes — and 10 boards elevated the Gators to secure a nine-point victory. Handlogten concluded his night with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
With the win, Florida also moves to .500 all-time (689-689) against SEC opponents for the first time in 88 years.
The Gators will hit the road in an attempt to climb one game over even in the league as it takes on No. 18 South Carolina in a critical matchup for both squads on Saturday at noon ET.
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