GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Riley Kugel scored 22 points, Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 and Florida upset No. 12 Auburn 81-65 on Saturday to put itself in situation to make the NCAA Tournament for the to start with time in three yrs.
The Gators (16-7, 6-4 Southeastern Convention) prolonged their dwelling-successful streak from the marginally favored Tigers to 15 and picked up their 2nd Quad 1 victory in two months. This one arrived in surprising style.
Florida dominated Auburn (19-5, 8-3) from the opening tip and — for a change — under no circumstances let up. Coach Todd Golden’s workforce had shed 3 online games this year (Wake Forest, Texas A&M and Kentucky) just after primary at halftime and squandered huge leads before eking out wins versus Ga and Mississippi State late very last month.
But Florida turned in its most comprehensive sport of the period, main Auburn by as a lot of as 29 in the next fifty percent, and may possibly have accomplished ample to carry alone off the proverbial NCAA bubble for great.
Zyon Pullin chipped in 19 details for the Gators, who shot 40% from the area and designed 7 of 21 from 3-place selection.
Florida scored the 1st 9 points of the sport and opened a 17-place direct halfway by means of the initial half thanks mostly to guard engage in. Clayton, Kugel and Pullin proved to be a handful for Auburn’s backcourt.
And the Tigers’ perceived advantage in the paint with Johni Broome never ever materialized. Broome, who sales opportunities Auburn in scoring with 16 factors a video game, concluded with 12 factors and 7 boards. He experienced just five factors with 10 to enjoy and skipped 7 of 8 free throws.
K.D. Johnson also scored 12 details for the Tigers. Auburn, which previous won in Gainesville in 1996, missed 14 of 17 pictures from guiding the arc.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Auburn could fall some in the next AP college or university basketball poll, but the Tigers also appreciated an remarkable home victory towards rival and 16th-rated Alabama before in the 7 days.
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Auburn: The Tigers looked poised to finish a many years-extensive skid in Gainesville, but the O’Dome has been the program’s household of horrors considering the fact that 1996. A highway loss in league enjoy, although, does very little to impression Auburn’s likelihood of profitable the SEC and possibly finding a major seed in the NCAA Match.
Florida: The Gators required a further Quad 1 earn to bolster their NCAA resume. They received at Kentucky to conclusion January and additional one more solid victory from the Tigers to give them a very little far more margin for mistake down the extend.
HOMETOWN HERO
Previous Florida star and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson obtained a standing ovation even though currently being introduced in the first 50 percent. Richardson, a Gainesville native, sat courtside with a pal and was demonstrated on digital camera dancing the team’s mascot, Alberta.
UP Up coming
Auburn hosts South Carolina on Wednesday.
Florida hosts LSU on Tuesday.
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