Clayton makes 7 3-pointers, including go-ahead in OT to lift Florida past No. 10 Kentucky 94-91
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Walter Clayton Jr. made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:42 remaining in overtime and added two insurance free throws with 16.4 seconds left to finish with 23 points, and Florida outlasted No. 10 Kentucky 94-91 on Wednesday night for its fourth consecutive victory.
Clayton made a career-best 7 of 13 overall from behind the arc, with the first of his two clutch makes coming with 3 seconds left in regulation to force the extra five minutes at 84-all.
“I wasn’t surprised at all," Clayton said of the tying shot. "ZP (Zyon Pullin) does a great job at attracting the defense. He is a threat obviously. So, with him driving to the middle I was able to raise up to the left wing and Reed (Sheppard) was a little far off me. I came up, closed it out, jumped, and hit the shot.”
Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham made one of two free throws with 13.5 seconds remaining in regulation to give Kentucky an 84-81 lead before Clayton drained the tying 3.
Zyon Pullin finished with 21 points including three free throws in the final minute of overtime and Tyrese Samuel had 22 with 13 boards for the Gators (15-6, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), who avenged an earlier loss to the Wildcats. They also improved to 3-0 in overtime games this season, having beaten Michigan in double OT last month and Georgia 102-98 on Saturday.
“We are definitely comfortable in those moments," second-year Gators coach Todd Golden said of his team's first Quad 1 victory in seven tries. "I don’t necessarily think it’s a great strategy to be successful all the time to go to overtime, but the balls bounced their way a couple of times in those games.”
Reed Sheppard had 24 points in his second start, Dillingham 20 and Antonio Reeves 19 for short-handed Kentucky (15-5, 5-3), which played without starting guard D.J. Wagner (ankle) and regular forward Justin Edwards (leg).
Seven-footer Ugonna Onyenso made his first collegiate start for Kentucky and contributed career highs of 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting, 16 rebounds and eight blocks.
The tight game featured a remarkable 29 lead changes and 15 ties and the Gators even trailed by 10 late in the first half before closing to enter the second half down just 41-36.
The teams traded initial baskets in OT before Tre Mitchell's free throw gave the Wildcats their last lead before Clayton drained a 3 from the left corner. Dillingham missed a 3 and Pullin added the free throws before Clayton sealed the game from the line.
Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves was recognized before player introductions for recently surpassing 2,000 career points in the win over Georgia. The fifth-year senior tallied 1,195 points in three seasons at Illinois State before transferring to Lexington last season and scoring 488 while being named SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year last season.
BIG PICTURE
Florida needed extra time for the second consecutive game and came up big again, no easy feat before 20,068 in loud, hostile Rupp Arena. Perimeter shooting was key as the Gators fared better from deep (12 of 28, 43%) than inside the arc (20 of 50, including 2 of 6 in OT). They also edged Kentucky 50-48 on the glass.
Kentucky must wait another game in hopes of playing at full strength, and the Wildcats surely could have used Wagner’s offense. They got a lot from Sheppard, Dillingham and Reeves but also missed a bunch of close attempts that could have won the game. They made 10 of 26 3s (38%) and shot 45% overall, but were just 2 of 8 in OT. Onyenso missed a couple in the clutch, spoiling an otherwise impressive effort.
“Just a couple of breakdowns," Onyenso said. "If I had made the layups that I missed, I think it would have given us a chance to win. It was a tough loss.”
UP NEXT
Florida visits Texas A&M on Saturday.
Kentucky hosts No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Micah Handlogten vs. Ugonna Onyenso (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
19:31 | Antonio Reeves turnover (traveling) | |||
19:04 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point dunk | |||
19:03 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
19:02 | Tre Mitchell blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point layup | |||
19:01 | Gators offensive rebound | |||
18:59 | Micah Handlogten turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:45 | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | |||
18:43 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
18:37 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
18:35 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
18:22 | +3 | Adou Thiero makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists) | 0-3 | |
18:11 | Will Richard turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:02 | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | |||
18:00 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
17:53 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
17:51 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
17:45 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
17:43 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
17:35 | Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot | |||
17:33 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
17:20 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point driving hook shot | |||
17:18 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
17:10 | Will Richard blocks Ugonna Onyenso's two point layup | |||
17:08 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
17:02 | +3 | Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 3-3 | |
16:49 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 3-6 | |
16:45 | Zyon Pullin turnover (lost ball) | |||
16:29 | Will Richard shooting foul (Ugonna Onyenso draws the foul) | |||
16:29 | +1 | Ugonna Onyenso makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-7 | |
16:29 | +1 | Ugonna Onyenso makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-8 | |
16:17 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 6-8 | |
16:02 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point floating jump shot | 6-10 | |
15:45 | Adou Thiero blocks Zyon Pullin's two point layup | |||
15:43 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
15:31 | Tyrese Samuel blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup | |||
15:29 | Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound | |||
15:24 | Ugonna Onyenso misses two point layup | |||
15:22 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
15:16 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup (Will Richard assists) | 8-10 | |
15:06 | TV timeout | |||
14:52 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point floating jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 8-12 | |
14:26 | +2 | Alex Condon makes two point layup (Riley Kugel assists) | 10-12 | |
14:01 | Rob Dillingham misses two point floating jump shot | |||
13:59 | Gators defensive rebound | |||
13:31 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
13:29 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
13:22 | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Thomas Haugh steals) | |||
13:14 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-12 | |
12:52 | Aaron Bradshaw misses two point layup | |||
12:50 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
12:41 | +2 | Riley Kugel makes two point layup | 14-12 | |
12:29 | Riley Kugel personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
12:23 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) | |||
12:08 | Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot | |||
12:06 | Riley Kugel offensive rebound | |||
11:58 | Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot | |||
11:56 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
11:53 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point pullup jump shot | 14-14 | |
11:35 | Aaron Bradshaw blocks Alex Condon's two point layup | |||
11:33 | Gators offensive rebound | |||
11:33 | TV timeout | |||
11:26 | Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot | |||
11:24 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
11:24 | Riley Kugel personal foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul) | |||
11:14 | Alex Condon shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul) | |||
11:14 | +1 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-15 | |
11:14 | Zvonimir Ivisic misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
11:14 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Adou Thiero shooting foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
10:58 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-15 | |
10:58 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-15 | |
10:33 | Zvonimir Ivisic misses two point jump shot | |||
10:32 | Tre Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
10:32 | Walter Clayton Jr. personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
10:21 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point layup | 16-17 | |
10:00 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Micah Handlogten assists) | 19-17 | |
9:50 | Rob Dillingham turnover (lost ball) (Micah Handlogten steals) | |||
9:41 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:39 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
9:31 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists) | 19-20 | |
9:19 | +3 | Riley Kugel makes three point pullup jump shot | 22-20 | |
8:59 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 22-23 | |
8:36 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point driving hook shot | 24-23 | |
8:36 | Adou Thiero shooting foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
8:36 | Tyrese Samuel misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:36 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
8:14 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point driving hook shot | 24-25 | |
7:54 | Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
7:54 | TV timeout | |||
7:54 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-25 | |
7:54 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-25 | |
7:33 | Tyrese Samuel blocks Tre Mitchell's two point layup | |||
7:31 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
7:26 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 26-27 | |
7:05 | +2 | Denzel Aberdeen makes two point floating jump shot | 28-27 | |
6:36 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 28-30 | |
6:05 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:03 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
5:56 | Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot | |||
5:55 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
5:48 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Riley Kugel's two point layup | |||
5:46 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
5:46 | Micah Handlogten misses two point layup | |||
5:46 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
5:46 | Tyrese Samuel blocks Reed Sheppard's two point layup | |||
5:46 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
5:39 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Denzel Aberdeen's two point layup | |||
5:37 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
5:06 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
5:04 | Tre Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
4:57 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point layup | |||
4:48 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Reed Sheppard misses two point layup | |||
4:33 | Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound | |||
4:28 | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup | 28-32 | |
4:16 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
4:14 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | |||
3:51 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
3:34 | Walter Clayton Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mitchell steals) | |||
3:27 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point layup | 28-34 | |
3:08 | Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Will Richard draws the foul) | |||
3:08 | TV timeout | |||
3:08 | +1 | Will Richard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-34 | |
3:08 | Will Richard misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:08 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
2:49 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 29-37 | |
2:25 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
2:23 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
2:15 | +2 | Aaron Bradshaw makes two point dunk (Antonio Reeves assists) | 29-39 | |
1:57 | Rob Dillingham shooting foul (Zyon Pullin draws the foul) | |||
1:57 | +1 | Zyon Pullin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-39 | |
1:57 | +1 | Zyon Pullin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-39 | |
1:39 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
1:37 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
1:20 | Thomas Haugh misses three point jump shot | |||
1:18 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
1:09 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point floating jump shot | 31-41 | |
0:49 | +3 | Zyon Pullin makes three point jump shot (Will Richard assists) | 34-41 | |
0:28 | Rob Dillingham misses two point turnaround bank jump shot | |||
0:26 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
0:20 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists) | 36-41 | |
0:01 | Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |