LSU

FLA

Kugel leads Florida's second-half rally to topple LSU 79-67

AP
Mar 04, 2023

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Riley Kugel scored 21 points, Will Richard added 18 points and Florida Gators defeated LSU Tigers 79-67 on Saturday night after trailing by 12 points in the second half.

The 24-point turnaround was sparked by Kugel, a freshman who averages 9.3 points but has reached double figures in eight consecutive games. Trailing 44-32, he started Florida's rally with a 3-pointer and later scored 11 points in a 13-4 run that put the game well in hand. He scored 17 points in the second half on 4 of 5 3-point shooting and 6 of 8 overall.

LSU led 49-43 in the second half before going cold, making just 5 of 20 shots in the final 10 1/2 minutes, twice going 1 for 8. The Gators, on the other hand, made 7 of their last 9 shots to reach 50 points in the second half.

Richard made 7 of 10 shots and grabbed six rebounds. Kyle Lofton had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists for Florida (16-15, 9-9 SEC).

KJ Williams scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Derek Fountain added 13 points and 12 rebounds for LSU (13-18, 2-16). Adam Miller had 10 points.

Williams had eight points and six rebounds to lead LSU to a 33-29 halftime lead.

The conference tournament begins Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee.

--- More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
LSU
Tigers
33
FLA
Gators
29

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Derek Fountain vs. Jason Jitoboh (Kyle Lofton gains possession)
19:31		KJ Williams shooting foul (Jason Jitoboh draws the foul)
19:31	+1	Jason Jitoboh makes regular free throw 1 of 2	0-1
19:31	+1	Jason Jitoboh makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-2
19:13		Riley Kugel shooting foul (Tyrell Ward draws the foul)
19:13		Tyrell Ward misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:13		Tyrell Ward misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:13		Jason Jitoboh defensive rebound
18:57		Riley Kugel turnover (bad pass) (Cam Hayes steals)
18:53		Cam Hayes misses two point layup
18:51		Will Richard defensive rebound
18:40		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
18:38		Jason Jitoboh offensive rebound
18:33	+3	Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lofton assists)	0-5
18:13		Derek Fountain turnover (lost ball) (Myreon Jones steals)
17:57		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
17:55		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
17:49		Kyle Lofton personal foul
17:41	+3	Derek Fountain makes three point jump shot (Adam Miller assists)	3-5
17:17	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point jump shot	3-7
17:01		Adam Miller turnover (bad pass) (Will Richard steals)
16:46		Jason Jitoboh turnover (traveling)
16:32		Derek Fountain turnover (bad pass) (Will Richard steals)
16:18		Jason Jitoboh misses two point jump shot
16:16		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
16:04	+2	Adam Miller makes two point layup	5-7
15:40		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
15:38		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
15:25		Adam Miller misses two point jump shot
15:23		Kyle Lofton defensive rebound
15:10		Myreon Jones misses three point jump shot
15:08		Adam Miller defensive rebound
15:02	+2	Adam Miller makes two point layup	7-7
14:39		Riley Kugel turnover (out of bounds)
14:39		TV timeout
14:26		KJ Williams misses two point jump shot
14:24		Alex Fudge defensive rebound
14:04		Alex Fudge misses three point jump shot
14:02		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
13:45	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup (Jalen Reed assists)	9-7
13:29		Kyle Lofton misses two point layup
13:27		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
13:22		KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
13:20		Kyle Lofton defensive rebound
13:19		Kyle Lofton turnover
13:13		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
13:11		Denzel Aberdeen defensive rebound
12:59		Kowacie Reeves misses three point jump shot
12:57		KJ Williams defensive rebound
12:43		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
12:41		Denzel Aberdeen defensive rebound
12:36	+2	Will Richard makes two point dunk (Denzel Aberdeen assists)	9-9
12:21		Trae Hannibal offensive foul (Alex Fudge draws the foul)
12:21		Trae Hannibal turnover (offensive foul)
11:54		Alex Fudge misses two point jump shot
11:52		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
11:27		Kyle Lofton blocks Justice Hill's two point layup
11:27		Tigers offensive rebound
11:27		TV timeout
11:27		Denzel Aberdeen personal foul
11:14	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point layup	11-9
10:49		Derek Fountain shooting foul (Kowacie Reeves draws the foul)
10:49		Kowacie Reeves misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:49		Kowacie Reeves misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:49		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
10:23	+2	Derek Fountain makes two point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists)	13-9
10:00		Denzel Aberdeen misses two point layup
9:58		Alex Fudge offensive rebound
9:55		Alex Fudge misses two point layup
9:55		Alex Fudge offensive rebound
9:55	+2	Alex Fudge makes two point layup	13-11
9:38		Jalen Reed offensive foul (Kowacie Reeves draws the foul)
9:38		Jalen Reed turnover (offensive foul)
9:25		Riley Kugel misses two point layup
9:23		Jason Jitoboh offensive rebound
9:21	+2	Jason Jitoboh makes two point layup	13-13
9:09		Tyrell Ward misses three point jump shot
9:07		KJ Williams offensive rebound
9:05		Cam Hayes misses three point jump shot
9:03		Trae Hannibal offensive rebound
8:50		KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
8:48		Myreon Jones defensive rebound
8:34		Jason Jitoboh turnover (lost ball) (Trae Hannibal steals)
8:25		Tyrell Ward misses three point jump shot
8:23		Riley Kugel defensive rebound
8:21		Tyrell Ward personal foul
8:17	+2	Jason Jitoboh makes two point dunk (Myreon Jones assists)	13-15
7:54		TV timeout
7:44	+2	Justice Hill makes two point layup	15-15
7:24	+3	Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Niels Lane assists)	15-18
6:56		Jalen Reed misses two point layup
6:54		KJ Williams offensive rebound
6:50	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup	17-18
6:25		Riley Kugel misses two point layup
6:23		Adam Miller defensive rebound
6:16	+2	Jalen Reed makes two point layup	19-18
6:16		Riley Kugel shooting foul (Jalen Reed draws the foul)
6:16	+1	Jalen Reed makes regular free throw 1 of 1	20-18
5:55		Niels Lane misses two point layup
5:53		KJ Williams defensive rebound
5:41	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (KJ Williams assists)	23-18
5:11		Jason Jitoboh misses two point jump shot
5:09		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
5:04		Jason Jitoboh shooting foul (Jalen Reed draws the foul)
5:04		Jalen Reed misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:04	+1	Jalen Reed makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-18
4:44		Will Richard misses three point jump shot
4:42		Cam Hayes defensive rebound
4:38		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
4:36		Tigers offensive rebound
4:27		KJ Williams misses two point layup
4:25		Will Richard defensive rebound
4:02		Alex Fudge misses three point jump shot
4:00		Jason Jitoboh offensive rebound
3:43	+3	Kyle Lofton makes three point jump shot	24-21
3:28		Alex Fudge shooting foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
3:28		TV timeout
3:28		Trae Hannibal misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:28	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-21
3:09		Kowacie Reeves misses two point jump shot
3:07		Kowacie Reeves offensive rebound
3:06	+2	Kowacie Reeves makes two point layup	25-23
2:53		Alex Fudge blocks Derek Fountain's two point jump shot
2:51		Gators defensive rebound
2:35	+2	Kowacie Reeves makes two point layup (Kyle Lofton assists)	25-25
2:19		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
2:17		Derek Fountain offensive rebound
2:14	+2	Derek Fountain makes two point layup	27-25
1:49	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point layup	27-27
1:32		Kyle Lofton personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
1:32	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-27
1:32	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-27
1:22		Cam Hayes personal foul
1:10	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point jump shot	29-29
1:00		KJ Williams misses two point layup
0:58		KJ Williams offensive rebound
0:57	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup	31-29
0:55		Alex Fudge turnover (bad pass) (Cam Hayes steals)
0:55		Alex Fudge shooting foul (Cam Hayes draws the foul)
0:55	+1	Cam Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-29
0:55	+1	Cam Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-29
0:55		Gators 30 second timeout
0:30		Kowacie Reeves misses two point jump shot
0:28		KJ Williams defensive rebound
0:18		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:03		KJ Williams misses two point jump shot
0:01		Alex Fudge defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
LSU
Tigers
34
FLA
Gators
50

Time		Play	Score
19:36		Jason Jitoboh shooting foul (Cam Hayes draws the foul)
19:36	+1	Cam Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-29
19:36	+1	Cam Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-29
19:14		Kyle Lofton misses two point layup
19:12		Tyrell Ward defensive rebound
18:57		Cam Hayes misses three point jump shot
18:55		Myreon Jones defensive rebound
18:33	+3	Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Jason Jitoboh assists)	35-32
18:21	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Cam Hayes assists)	38-32
17:56		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
17:54		Cam Hayes defensive rebound
17:33		KJ Williams turnover (bad pass) (Myreon Jones steals)
17:27		Kyle Lofton misses two point layup
17:25		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
17:20	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup	40-32
16:49		Will Richard misses three point jump shot
16:47		Adam Miller defensive rebound
16:22	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup (Adam Miller assists)	42-32
16:07		Tyrell Ward personal foul
16:07		Jalen Reed shooting foul (Kyle Lofton draws the foul)
16:07		Kyle Lofton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:07		Kyle Lofton misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:07		KJ Williams defensive rebound
15:45	+2	KJ Williams makes two point dunk (Tyrell Ward assists)	44-32
15:31	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot	44-35
15:29		Tigers 30 second timeout
15:29		TV timeout
15:08		Will Richard shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
15:08		TV timeout
15:08	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-35
15:08		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:08		Alex Fudge defensive rebound
14:54	+2	Will Richard makes two point layup (Alex Fudge assists)	45-37
14:54		KJ Williams shooting foul (Will Richard draws the foul)
14:54	+1	Will Richard makes regular free throw 1 of 1	45-38
14:48		Jalen Reed offensive foul
14:48		Jalen Reed turnover (offensive foul)
14:35		Will Richard misses three point jump shot
14:33		Adam Miller defensive rebound
14:18		Adam Miller turnover
14:04	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot	45-41
13:32		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
13:30		Will Richard defensive rebound
13:11		KJ Williams shooting foul (Niels Lane draws the foul)
13:11		Niels Lane misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:11		Niels Lane misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:11		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
12:42		Will Richard personal foul
12:26		Niels Lane blocks Trae Hannibal's two point jump shot
12:24		Jalen Reed offensive rebound
12:21		Jalen Reed misses two point jump shot
12:19		Derek Fountain offensive rebound
12:18	+2	Derek Fountain makes two point layup	47-41
12:07		Cam Hayes personal foul
12:00		Trae Hannibal shooting foul (Alex Fudge draws the foul)
12:00		TV timeout
12:00	+1	Alex Fudge makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-42
12:00	+1	Alex Fudge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-43
11:30	+2	Jalen Reed makes two point layup	49-43
11:12		Alex Fudge misses three point jump shot
11:10		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
11:10		Niels Lane personal foul
10:59		Jalen Reed turnover (traveling)
10:48		Kowacie Reeves misses two point layup
10:46		Kyle Lofton offensive rebound
10:41		Kyle Lofton misses two point layup
10:39		Alex Fudge offensive rebound
10:38	+2	Alex Fudge makes two point dunk	49-45
10:28		Jalen Reed misses two point dunk
10:26		Gators defensive rebound
10:10		Riley Kugel turnover (lost ball) (KJ Williams steals)
10:06		Cam Hayes misses two point layup
10:04		Kyle Lofton defensive rebound
9:59		KJ Williams shooting foul (Niels Lane draws the foul)
9:59	+1	Niels Lane makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-46
9:59		Niels Lane misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:59		Kowacie Reeves offensive rebound
9:55		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
9:53		Will Richard offensive rebound
9:51	+2	Will Richard makes two point layup	49-48
9:49		Tigers 30 second timeout
9:38		Niels Lane personal foul
9:27		Alex Fudge personal foul
9:09		Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
9:07		Trae Hannibal offensive rebound
9:07		Alex Fudge personal foul
9:07	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-48
9:07	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-48
8:55	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point layup (Will Richard assists)	51-50
8:41	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point layup (Jalen Reed assists)	53-50
8:27		Cam Hayes personal foul (Kyle Lofton draws the foul)
8:27	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-51
8:27	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-52
8:16		Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
8:14		Jalen Reed offensive rebound
8:13		Jalen Reed misses two point layup
8:11		Kyle Lofton defensive rebound
7:47		Jason Jitoboh misses two point layup
7:45		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
7:32		Jalen Reed turnover (bad pass) (Kowacie Reeves steals)
7:29	+2	Kowacie Reeves makes two point dunk	53-54
7:01		Jason Jitoboh blocks Trae Hannibal's two point layup
7:01		Tigers offensive rebound
7:01		TV timeout
6:57		Jalen Reed misses two point layup
6:55		Riley Kugel defensive rebound
6:44		Kowacie Reeves misses three point jump shot
6:42		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
6:34	+2	Derek Fountain makes two point layup (Jalen Reed assists)	55-54
6:12	+2	Will Richard makes two point layup (Kyle Lofton assists)	55-56
5:46		Derek Fountain misses three point jump shot
5:44		Will Richard defensive rebound
5:16		Derek Fountain blocks Riley Kugel's two point layup
5:14		Riley Kugel offensive rebound
5:10	+3	Kyle Lofton makes three point jump shot (Riley Kugel assists)	55-59
5:04		Cam Hayes turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Lofton steals)
5:04		Jalen Reed personal foul (Kyle Lofton draws the foul)
5:04	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-60
5:04	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-61
4:48		Will Richard personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
4:48	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-61
4:48		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:48		Kowacie Reeves defensive rebound
4:32	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot	56-64
4:14	+2	Cam Hayes makes two point layup	58-64
3:53	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot	58-67
3:34	+2	Cam Hayes makes two point layup	60-67
3:12	+2	Kowacie Reeves makes two point layup	60-69
3:09		Gators 30 second timeout
3:09		TV timeout
2:49		Cam Hayes misses two point jump shot
2:47		Will Richard defensive rebound
2:26	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point layup (Kyle Lofton assists)	60-71
2:26		Derek Fountain shooting foul (Riley Kugel draws the foul)
2:26	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 1 of 1	60-72
2:16		Tigers turnover
1:57		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
1:55		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
1:50		Adam Miller turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Lofton steals)
1:45	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point layup (Kyle Lofton assists)	60-74
1:33		Cam Hayes misses two point jump shot
1:31		KJ Williams offensive rebound
1:31		Alex Fudge personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
1:31	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-74
1:31		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:31		Kowacie Reeves defensive rebound
1:18		Kowacie Reeves misses two point layup
1:16		KJ Williams defensive rebound
1:07		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
1:05		Trae Hannibal offensive rebound
1:05		Myreon Jones personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
1:05	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-74
1:05	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-74
0:56	+3	Myreon Jones makes three point jump shot (Will Richard assists)	63-77
0:49		Will Richard shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
0:49	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-77
0:49	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	65-77
0:45		Riley Kugel turnover (bad pass) (Adam Miller steals)
0:44		Adam Miller misses two point layup
0:42		Derek Fountain offensive rebound
0:42	+2	Derek Fountain makes two point layup	67-77
0:42		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:36		Adam Miller personal foul (Kyle Lofton draws the foul)
0:36	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-78
0:36	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-79
0:28		KJ Williams misses two point jump shot
0:26		Derek Fountain offensive rebound
0:25		Derek Fountain misses two point layup
0:23		Derek Fountain offensive rebound
0:21		Derek Fountain misses two point layup
0:19		Myreon Jones defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Myreon Jones defensive rebound