Allen keys late surge, Florida rallies to beat Mizzou 64-60
AP
Feb 23, 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Kevarrius Hayes had seen enough two weeks ago. Too many close losses. Too many silly mistakes. Too little effort too often.
So Hayes called a players-only meeting.
Florida Gators hasn't been the same since.
KeVaughn Allen scored 17 points, Keyontae Johnson added 13 and the Gators overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to upend Missouri Tigers 64-60 on Saturday.
Florida (16-11, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) won its fourth consecutive game - the team's longest streak of the season - and continued to strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume down the stretch.
Allen and fellow senior Jalen Hudson have been catalysts.
''It's the bottom of the ninth for those guys,'' coach Mike White said.
Coming off consecutive road wins at Alabama and No. 13 LSU, Florida looked nothing like the same team in the first half against Mizzou (12-14, 3-11). The Gators shot 30 percent in the opening 20 minutes, had just two assists and trailed by nine.
They found themselves in an even bigger hole when Jordan Geist hit a 3-pointer that made it 40-28 early in the second half.
But Florida started driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line. The Gators made 25 of 30 from the stripe for the game, including 16 of 19 in the second half.
Allen hit 9 of 10, including two with 5.5 seconds remaining that essentially sealed the victory.
Hudson added 11 points off the bench for the Gators. It was fourth time in the last five games that Hudson reached double figures, a positive step forward after a rough start to his season.
''Just trying to give it everything I got. That's my motive now,'' Hudson said. ''It's just coming to an end and I want to give everything I got. I don't want to have any regrets. That's just kind of how I've been playing - leave it all out there every game.''
Geist scored 16 points to pace the Tigers (12-14, 3-11), who have now lost four SEC games after leading by 10 or more points. Javon Pickett added 15.
Mizzou missed several chances in the final minute-plus. Reed Nikko missed an and-one free throw that would have tied the game at 61 with 1:17 to play, Torrence Watson missed in the paint and Pickett missed a wide-open 3 with 8 seconds left in a two-point game.
''Everybody was telling me it was a good shot,'' Pickett said. ''I've just got to knock it down. That's on me.''
Xavier Pinson and Jeremiah Tilmon both fouled out down the stretch, leaving Mizzou with two bench players on the floor.
''It definitely takes away from what we're trying to do,'' Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said.
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers fell to 0-4 in Gainesville and have lost six of seven on the road in SEC play, not really that surprising considering they've played all season without highly talented forward Jontay Porter.
Florida: The Gators continues to build a case for making the NCAA Tournament, which looked like a pipe dream a month ago. Hudson has been a big reason for the late-season surge.
SILVER ANNIVERSARY
Florida recognized its 1993-94 team at halftime. Those Gators became the first in program history to reach the Final Four and gave the football-first school a taste of basketball success. Lon Kruger was the coach, and Craig Brown, Dan Cross, Andrew DeClercq and Dametri Hill were the stars.
SHOELESS STINT
Florida forward Isaiah Stokes played about three minutes in the second half without his right shoe. He even altered a shot during the stretch.
''Just keep playing and just try not to have anybody step on your foot,'' Stokes said.
UP NEXT
Missouri: Will try to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season Tuesday at Mississippi State.
Florida: Plays at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, another must-win game for the Gators and their NCAA Tournament hopes.
---
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1st Half
MIZZ
Tigers
33
FLA
Gators
24
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Missouri
19:44
+2
Jeremiah Tilmon made jump shot
2-0
19:22
+2
Kevarrius Hayes made layup, assist by Andrew Nembhard
2-2
19:04
Javon Pickett missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:02
Defensive rebound by Florida
18:39
Keyontae Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:37
Defensive rebound by Jeremiah Tilmon
18:25
Javon Pickett missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:23
Offensive rebound by Jeremiah Tilmon
18:22
Shooting foul on Kevarrius Hayes
18:22
+1
Jeremiah Tilmon made 1st of 2 free throws
3-2
18:22
+1
Jeremiah Tilmon made 2nd of 2 free throws
4-2
17:57
KeVaughn Allen missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:55
Offensive rebound by Dontay Bassett
17:37
Keyontae Johnson missed jump shot
17:35
Offensive rebound by Keyontae Johnson
17:20
+2
Keyontae Johnson made layup
4-4
17:12
Jeremiah Tilmon missed jump shot
17:10
Defensive rebound by Keyontae Johnson
17:10
Personal foul on Xavier Pinson
16:58
Offensive foul on Dontay Bassett
16:58
Turnover on Dontay Bassett
16:39
+2
Jeremiah Tilmon made layup, assist by Mitchell Smith
6-4
16:17
Isaiah Stokes missed jump shot
16:15
Defensive rebound by Jordan Geist
15:52
+2
Jordan Geist made jump shot
8-4
15:30
KeVaughn Allen missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:28
Defensive rebound by Xavier Pinson
14:58
Torrence Watson missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:56
Defensive rebound by Florida
14:37
Lost ball turnover on Jalen Hudson, stolen by Ronnie Suggs
14:27
Torrence Watson missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:25
Defensive rebound by Noah Locke
14:20
+2
Isaiah Stokes made layup
8-6
13:46
Jordan Geist missed jump shot
13:44
Offensive rebound by Javon Pickett
13:32
+2
Javon Pickett made layup
10-6
13:24
+2
Isaiah Stokes made jump shot
10-8
13:02
Jeremiah Tilmon missed jump shot
13:00
Defensive rebound by Jalen Hudson
12:51
Personal foul on Jeremiah Tilmon
12:48
Lost ball turnover on Keyontae Johnson, stolen by Jeremiah Tilmon
12:41
Ronnie Suggs missed layup
12:39
Defensive rebound by Jalen Hudson
12:35
+3
Jalen Hudson made 3-pt. jump shot
10-11
12:16
Personal foul on Noah Locke
11:59
Reed Nikko missed layup
11:57
Defensive rebound by Florida
11:39
Isaiah Stokes missed layup
11:34
Keyontae Johnson missed layup
11:31
Personal foul on Keyontae Johnson
11:06
+3
Javon Pickett made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by K.J. Santos
13-11
10:38
Jalen Hudson missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:36
Defensive rebound by Javon Pickett
10:21
Javon Pickett missed layup
10:19
Offensive rebound by Reed Nikko
10:19
+2
Reed Nikko made layup
15-11
9:57
+2
Isaiah Stokes made jump shot
15-13
9:26
Offensive foul on Reed Nikko
9:26
Turnover on Reed Nikko
9:15
KeVaughn Allen missed jump shot
9:13
Defensive rebound by Missouri
8:45
Turnover on Jeremiah Tilmon
8:27
Shooting foul on Kevin Puryear
8:24
+1
Jalen Hudson made 1st of 3 free throws
15-14
8:24
Jalen Hudson missed 2nd of 3 free throws
8:24
+1
Jalen Hudson made 3rd of 3 free throws
15-15
8:08
+3
Xavier Pinson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Torrence Watson
18-15
7:46
Isaiah Stokes missed layup, blocked by Jeremiah Tilmon
7:44
Defensive rebound by Xavier Pinson
7:37
+3
Torrence Watson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Xavier Pinson
21-15
7:19
KeVaughn Allen missed jump shot
7:17
Defensive rebound by Javon Pickett
7:03
Shooting foul on Kevarrius Hayes
7:03
+1
Xavier Pinson made 1st of 2 free throws
22-15
7:03
+1
Xavier Pinson made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-15
6:55
Personal foul on Torrence Watson
6:44
Shooting foul on Jeremiah Tilmon
6:44
+1
Keyontae Johnson made 1st of 2 free throws
23-16
6:44
+1
Keyontae Johnson made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-17
6:16
Xavier Pinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:58
Personal foul on Torrence Watson
5:58
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 1st of 2 free throws
23-18
5:58
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-19
5:41
Xavier Pinson missed layup
5:39
Offensive rebound by Xavier Pinson
5:39
Traveling violation turnover on Xavier Pinson
5:27
Keyontae Johnson missed jump shot
5:25
Offensive rebound by Dontay Bassett
5:24
Personal foul on Reed Nikko
5:24
+1
Dontay Bassett made 1st of 2 free throws
23-20
5:24
+1
Dontay Bassett made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-21
5:05
Javon Pickett missed jump shot
5:03
Defensive rebound by Noah Locke
4:55
Noah Locke missed jump shot
4:53
Defensive rebound by Reed Nikko
4:43
+3
Torrence Watson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Xavier Pinson
26-21
4:22
Lost ball turnover on Keyontae Johnson, stolen by Jordan Geist
4:04
Lost ball turnover on Javon Pickett, stolen by Noah Locke
3:54
+2
Keyontae Johnson made dunk, assist by Andrew Nembhard
26-23
3:22
Torrence Watson missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:20
Defensive rebound by Andrew Nembhard
3:08
KeVaughn Allen missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:06
Offensive rebound by KeVaughn Allen
2:56
Lost ball turnover on Andrew Nembhard, stolen by Xavier Pinson
2:49
Torrence Watson missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:47
Offensive rebound by Javon Pickett
2:43
+2
Javon Pickett made layup
28-23
2:17
Lost ball turnover on KeVaughn Allen, stolen by Javon Pickett
2:13
+2
Jordan Geist made layup, assist by Javon Pickett
30-23
2:13
Shooting foul on Andrew Nembhard
2:13
+1
Jordan Geist made free throw
31-23
1:50
Isaiah Stokes missed layup
1:48
Defensive rebound by Reed Nikko
1:41
Turnover on Xavier Pinson
1:25
Personal foul on Xavier Pinson
1:25
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 1st of 2 free throws
31-24
1:25
KeVaughn Allen missed 2nd of 2 free throws
1:25
Defensive rebound by Reed Nikko
1:00
Shooting foul on KeVaughn Allen
1:00
Javon Pickett missed 1st of 2 free throws
1:00
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Stokes
45.0
Lost ball turnover on Jalen Hudson, stolen by Javon Pickett
39.0
Javon Pickett missed layup
37.0
Defensive rebound by Jalen Hudson
18.0
Jalen Hudson missed layup
16.0
Defensive rebound by Reed Nikko
2.0
+2
Jordan Geist made jump shot
33-24
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
MIZZ
Tigers
27
FLA
Gators
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:52
Personal foul on Andrew Nembhard
19:49
Lost ball turnover on Jeremiah Tilmon, stolen by KeVaughn Allen
19:40
+2
KeVaughn Allen made layup
33-26
19:27
Kevin Puryear missed jump shot
19:25
Defensive rebound by Florida
19:27
Personal foul on Jeremiah Tilmon
19:06
Kevarrius Hayes missed layup
19:04
Defensive rebound by Jeremiah Tilmon
18:41
+2
Jeremiah Tilmon made layup, assist by Kevin Puryear
35-26
18:35
Personal foul on Xavier Pinson
18:15
Lost ball turnover on Andrew Nembhard, stolen by Javon Pickett
18:08
Lost ball turnover on Javon Pickett, stolen by KeVaughn Allen
17:54
Noah Locke missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:52
Defensive rebound by Jordan Geist
17:42
Jordan Geist missed jump shot
17:40
Offensive rebound by Javon Pickett
17:40
+2
Javon Pickett made layup
37-26
17:30
+2
Keyontae Johnson made layup, assist by Andrew Nembhard
37-28
17:01
+3
Jordan Geist made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Xavier Pinson
40-28
17:01
Flagrant foul on Jeremiah Tilmon
17:01
+1
Kevarrius Hayes made 1st of 2 free throws
40-29
17:01
+1
Kevarrius Hayes made 2nd of 2 free throws
40-30
16:41
+3
Keyontae Johnson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by KeVaughn Allen
40-33
16:03
+2
Javon Pickett made jump shot
42-33
15:59
Personal foul on Javon Pickett
15:55
Noah Locke missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:53
Defensive rebound by Jordan Geist
15:37
Lost ball turnover on Javon Pickett, stolen by Kevarrius Hayes
15:31
Shooting foul on Reed Nikko
15:31
Keyontae Johnson missed 1st of 2 free throws
15:32
+1
Keyontae Johnson made 2nd of 2 free throws
42-34
15:07
Offensive foul on Jordan Geist
15:06
Turnover on Jordan Geist
14:54
Personal foul on Xavier Pinson
14:54
+1
Andrew Nembhard made 1st of 2 free throws
42-35
14:54
+1
Andrew Nembhard made 2nd of 2 free throws
42-36
14:27
Torrence Watson missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:25
Defensive rebound by Florida
14:10
Lost ball turnover on Keyontae Johnson, stolen by Kevin Puryear
14:09
Personal foul on Keyontae Johnson
13:53
Shooting foul on Keyontae Johnson
13:53
Kevin Puryear missed 1st of 2 free throws
13:53
+1
Kevin Puryear made 2nd of 2 free throws
43-36
13:35
+2
KeVaughn Allen made jump shot
43-38
13:06
Jordan Geist missed layup
13:04
Defensive rebound by Andrew Nembhard
12:56
Noah Locke missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:54
Defensive rebound by Ronnie Suggs
12:56
Unsportsmanlike technical foul on Missouri
12:56
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 1st of 2 free throws
43-39
12:56
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 2nd of 2 free throws
43-40
12:38
Shooting foul on KeVaughn Allen
12:38
Torrence Watson missed 1st of 2 free throws
12:38
Torrence Watson missed 2nd of 2 free throws
12:38
Offensive rebound by Javon Pickett
12:12
Jordan Geist missed layup
12:10
Defensive rebound by Andrew Nembhard
12:03
Shooting foul on Ronnie Suggs
12:03
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 1st of 2 free throws
43-41
12:03
+1
KeVaughn Allen made 2nd of 2 free throws
43-42
11:42
+2
Jordan Geist made jump shot
45-42
11:27
+2
Jalen Hudson made layup
45-44
11:03
Jordan Geist missed jump shot
11:01
Personal foul on Andrew Nembhard
10:58
+3
Torrence Watson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jordan Geist
48-44
10:43
+2
KeVaughn Allen made layup, assist by Isaiah Stokes
48-46
10:16
Shooting foul on Jalen Hudson
10:16
+1
Javon Pickett made 1st of 2 free throws
49-46
10:16
+1
Javon Pickett made 2nd of 2 free throws
50-46
10:01
+2
Jalen Hudson made jump shot, assist by Isaiah Stokes
50-48
9:34
Torrence Watson missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:32
Defensive rebound by Keyontae Johnson
9:09
Noah Locke missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:07
Defensive rebound by Ronnie Suggs
8:36
Jordan Geist missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:32
+2
Javon Pickett made jump shot, assist by Ronnie Suggs
52-48
8:08
+2
KeVaughn Allen made jump shot
52-50
7:40
Jordan Geist missed layup
7:38
Defensive rebound by KeVaughn Allen
7:11
+3
Noah Locke made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Keyontae Johnson
52-53
6:48
+2
Jordan Geist made jump shot
54-53
6:16
Bad pass turnover on Keyontae Johnson
5:48
+2
Kevin Puryear made layup
56-53
5:24
+2
Kevarrius Hayes made layup, assist by Andrew Nembhard