Jan 30, 2016
Florida upsets No. 9 West Virginia
Dorian Finney-Smith scored 24 points, Brandone Francis-Ramirez hit three huge 3-pointers and Florida upset No. 9 West Virginia 88-71 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday.
The Canadian Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Dorian Finney-Smith scored 24 points, Brandone Francis-Ramirez hit three huge 3-pointers and Florida upset No. 9 West Virginia 88-71 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday.
It gave first-year Gators coach Mike White a signature win and surely will help his team's chances of making the NCAA Tournament in March.
Florida (14-7) had lost its last 12 games against top-10 teams, but put together arguably its most complete outing of the season against the Mountaineers (17-4).
Finney-Smith made 7 of 12 shots, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and the Gators never trailed after his first trey off the opening tip. His last one with 1:02 to play -- as fans chanted "S-E-C" and "overrated" -- led to a standing ovation.
Jaysean Page and Tarik Phillip scored 15 apiece for West Virginia, which gave up its most points of the season.
Coach Bob Huggins used timeouts and different lineups, but found no answer for Florida's ball movement and outside shooting. The Gators hit 12 of 20 from behind the arc.
Most of the damage was done in the first half. Florida closed the half with a 14-3 run that turned a four-point game into a double-digit affair, and when Finney-Smith hit his third 3 right after the break, it was clear this was going to be the Gators' day.
Florida opened up a 20-point lead midway through the second half and never let West Virginia back in it. The Gators closed it out from the free-throw line, finishing 24 of 31 from the stripe after a 2-of-7 start.
KeVaughn Allen chipped in 19 points for the Gators, and Chris Chiozza finished with 10.
Francis-Ramirez was the surprise of the day. The freshman entered the game 5 for 40 from 3-point range and had missed 22 of his last 23 from behind the arc. But he seemingly couldn't miss against West Virginia, and even had Kasey Hill apologizing for missing him wide open in the corner late.
The Mountaineers played without starting forward Jonathan Holton, who was suspended indefinitely Thursday for an undisclosed violation of team rules. The Gators, meanwhile, were without starting forward Justin Leon, who sustained a concussion at Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
A pregame skirmish seemed to set the tone.
The teams had to be separated just before the national anthem, after Florida players took exception to West Virginia circling up on their side of the floor. Referees reviewed video of the incident, but decided not to call any technical fouls.
They blew the whistle plenty after the tip.
West Virginia and Florida combined for 48 fouls and 47 free throws.
Florida opened up a 16-point lead early and looked like it would pull away. But foul trouble and turnovers helped West Virginia get back in the game. The Mountaineers cut it to 31-27 late in the first half, but the Gators closed the first half strong and pulled away after the break.
TIP-INS
West Virginia: Fell to 0-3 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Mountaineers lost to LSU last year and to Missouri during the 2013-14 season. ... Remained winless against Florida in the Sunshine State, dropping to 0-4 in Gainesville (0-2), Jacksonville (0-1) and Miami (0-1).
Florida: Former Gators Jason Williams and Lee Humphrey attended the game. ... Florida assistant Darris Nichols played 141 games for West Virginia (2004-08), scoring 993 points. ... Football coach Jim McElwain, making an appearance during a big recruiting weekend, spoke to the crowd at halftime.
UP NEXT
West Virginia plays at Iowa State on Tuesday.
Florida hosts Arkansas on Wednesday.
It gave first-year Gators coach Mike White a signature win and surely will help his team's chances of making the NCAA Tournament in March.
Florida (14-7) had lost its last 12 games against top-10 teams, but put together arguably its most complete outing of the season against the Mountaineers (17-4).
Finney-Smith made 7 of 12 shots, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and the Gators never trailed after his first trey off the opening tip. His last one with 1:02 to play -- as fans chanted "S-E-C" and "overrated" -- led to a standing ovation.
Jaysean Page and Tarik Phillip scored 15 apiece for West Virginia, which gave up its most points of the season.
Coach Bob Huggins used timeouts and different lineups, but found no answer for Florida's ball movement and outside shooting. The Gators hit 12 of 20 from behind the arc.
Most of the damage was done in the first half. Florida closed the half with a 14-3 run that turned a four-point game into a double-digit affair, and when Finney-Smith hit his third 3 right after the break, it was clear this was going to be the Gators' day.
Florida opened up a 20-point lead midway through the second half and never let West Virginia back in it. The Gators closed it out from the free-throw line, finishing 24 of 31 from the stripe after a 2-of-7 start.
KeVaughn Allen chipped in 19 points for the Gators, and Chris Chiozza finished with 10.
Francis-Ramirez was the surprise of the day. The freshman entered the game 5 for 40 from 3-point range and had missed 22 of his last 23 from behind the arc. But he seemingly couldn't miss against West Virginia, and even had Kasey Hill apologizing for missing him wide open in the corner late.
The Mountaineers played without starting forward Jonathan Holton, who was suspended indefinitely Thursday for an undisclosed violation of team rules. The Gators, meanwhile, were without starting forward Justin Leon, who sustained a concussion at Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
A pregame skirmish seemed to set the tone.
The teams had to be separated just before the national anthem, after Florida players took exception to West Virginia circling up on their side of the floor. Referees reviewed video of the incident, but decided not to call any technical fouls.
They blew the whistle plenty after the tip.
West Virginia and Florida combined for 48 fouls and 47 free throws.
Florida opened up a 16-point lead early and looked like it would pull away. But foul trouble and turnovers helped West Virginia get back in the game. The Mountaineers cut it to 31-27 late in the first half, but the Gators closed the first half strong and pulled away after the break.
TIP-INS
West Virginia: Fell to 0-3 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Mountaineers lost to LSU last year and to Missouri during the 2013-14 season. ... Remained winless against Florida in the Sunshine State, dropping to 0-4 in Gainesville (0-2), Jacksonville (0-1) and Miami (0-1).
Florida: Former Gators Jason Williams and Lee Humphrey attended the game. ... Florida assistant Darris Nichols played 141 games for West Virginia (2004-08), scoring 993 points. ... Football coach Jim McElwain, making an appearance during a big recruiting weekend, spoke to the crowd at halftime.
UP NEXT
West Virginia plays at Iowa State on Tuesday.
Florida hosts Arkansas on Wednesday.