Kentucky Basketball fought hard, but Florida just had slightly more muscle.
In a game where neither team got into an offensive rhythm, Florida used another 13-0 run in the first half to get far enough ahead to outlast the Cats 71-63 in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals.
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Florida was relentless on the glass, out-rebounding the Cats 50-29 and 18-8 on the offensive glass.
Despite shooting just 3-20 from three-point range, Florida still found a way to win. Kentucky shot 5-23 from three-point range and 35.6 percent from the floor. The Gators shot just 37.9 percent from the floor.
First Half
Florida got out to an 8-2 lead in the first 3:06, with Alex Condon converting a three-point play and Xaivian Lee nailing a three-pointer. Rueben Chinyelu was living up to his SEC Defensive Player of the Year accolades, collecting three steals.
The Gators kept the pressure on the Wildcats with their efficient shot-making five of six shots on a 6-0 run to take a 16-6 lead. Kentucky, though, made five of seven on an 8-0 run in 44 seconds to cut the deficit to 20-18 with 10:40 remaining. Mouhamed Dioubate— yes, Mouhamed Dioubate— made back-to-back threes to ignite a raucous Big Blue Nation crowd at Bridgestone Arena.
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After Kentucky tied the game 20-20, Boogie Fland made back-to-back shots to put the Gators up 24-20. Thomas Haugh followed two free throws to make it 26-20. Kentucky’s offense went cold for the next 2:17, missing five straight shots and six of seven. That drought would reach nearly six minutes before an Aberdeen floater stopped a 13-0 Florida run. 13-0… again. It was 33-22 with 3:21 remaining.
Kentucky battled back, though, and clamped down on both ends of the floor. They got the deficit to 33-26 inside the two-minute mark. Florida answered with a 4-0 run, but the Cats managed to get the deficit to 37-28 at halftime.
It was a struggle offensively for Kentucky in the first half, but they kept the game close. Mouhamed Dioubate had a great first half, leading the Cats in scoring 12 points on 4-5 shooting.
The Cats shot just 10-30 from the field, and 2-11 from three-point range. Florida also shot 2-11 from three-point range, and they were 15-34 from the field. But it was rebounding where the Gators made a huge impact, out-rebounding the Cats 25-16 and 8-3 on the offensive glass.
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Second Half
Kentucky’s offensive struggles carried over into the start of the second half. While they cut it to 37-20, Florida answered with an 8-2 run to take a 45-32 lead into the first media timeout. The Cats got off some good shots, but they just could not find the bottom of the net.
Florida would stretch the lead to 49-32 before the Cats answered with back-to-back dunks. The Gators were relentless on the glass, especially on offense.
Collin Chandler’s three-pointer with 10 minutes remaining finally went in, and the Cats had a little bit of hope down 54-43. But it just felt like they could never get into a consistent rhythm offensively, preventing them from really digging into the deficit.
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Even when the Gators went 0-5 and 1-8, including 2:48 without scoring, the Cats couldn’t buy a bucket for more than three minutes.
It got worse when Otega Oweh was called for a technical foul with 5:37 remaining, with Florida already in the double bonus. Florida led 58-46 at the time, despite being just 2-18 from three-point range. Kentucky, though, was just 3-18 and trailing 42-24 in rebounding.
Kentucky trailed 62-51 with 3:13 remaining at the final media timeout. Collin Chandler had three foul shots out of the timeout. He made all three, and Denzel Aberdeen then drew an offensive foul. Aberdeen then went to the line on the Cats’ ensuing possession and made both free throws to cut the lead to 62-56.
Chandler fouled out on the next possession, and there were 2:35 remaining. Kentucky still had time. Aberdeen made a 3-pointer to make it 66-61 with 1:19 to play, but Xaivian Lee answered on the next Gators’ possession to make it 69-61 with less than a minute remaining.
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Florida iced the game at the free-throw line and on the glass for a 71-63 win.
MVP: Mouhamed Dioubate
If it has to be someone, it would be Dioubate. He kept Kentucky in the game in the first half. If it wasn’t for him, who knows how this game would have gone. Dioubate finished with 14 points, including 12 in the first half.
Box Score
Kentucky vs. Florida Twitter Reactions
Big Blue Nation was having a frustrating afternoon. Here are the best Twitter reactions from Big Blue Nation.
