Tyrese Samuel, Zyon Pullin carry No. 24 Florida down the stretch in an 83-74 victory over Missouri
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) With scoring leader Walter Clayton Jr. sitting on Florida's bench, his teammates needed to step up.
Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin took over.
Samuel scored a career-high 28 points, Pullin added 21 and No. 24 Florida never trailed in an 83-74 victory over woeful Missouri on Wednesday night.
Samuel and Pullin scored 23 of the team's final 25 points, taking charge after Clayton fouled out with 14 minutes to play.
“They were just awesome,” coach Todd Golden said. “In tight moments, you want your experienced guys to step up and shoulder a little more of the load. ... They stepped up and made big shots."
The Gators (20-8, 10-5 Southeastern Conference) won for the ninth time in 11 games to reach 20 victories for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Tigers (8-20, 0-15) lost their 15th in a row and guaranteed a last-place finish in the league as well as the 14th seed in the conference tournament.
Florida has been on the rise for weeks and is now 2-1 - with the lone loss coming at then-No. 13 Alabama in overtime last week - since getting ranked for the first time in Golden’s two seasons.
This one was closer than many expected, though. The Gators were 13 1/2-point favorites but found themselves clinging to the lead after coming out flat to start the second half.
Missouri whittled a double-digit deficit to 55-54 after Nick Honor made three free throws with Clayton on the bench.
Florida’s Will Richard answered with his first 3-pointer of the night after missing six from long range. Pullin followed with another trey, and the Gators started to pull away. Samuel then converted a three-point play and made a layup on consecutive possessions. He finished with 10 rebounds.
All of it came with Clayton cheering from the bench. Clayton picked up his fifth foul on a technical while arguing a defensive foul called against him. He finished with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds.
“I think we played great the stretch," Samuel said. "We didn’t panic. Poise was key. I had a lot of confidence that we were still going to win the game.”
Micah Handlogten chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds for Florida, which won its seventh straight at home and improved to 13-1 in the O’Connell Center. Pullin rebounded from his worst offensive outing of the season - he scored two points against Vanderbilt on Saturday - and reached double figures for the 27th time in 28 games.
“Having games like this, you can’t relax," Samuel said. "It wakes us up and brings back a little urgency that we need going forward. Sometimes we need games like this, especially when you come out on top.
Added Pullin: “It brings us back to reality a little bit. It shows us our weaknesses and what we got to keep getting better at.”
Sean East II led the Tigers with 20 points. Honor added 18, and Tamar Bates, who torched the Gators for 36 points in their first meeting of the season, finished with 15.
“Second half was a little bit different of a game, but (the Gators) still manufactured what they had to do in a different way," Missouri coach Dennis Gates said.
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers have endured several tough losses during their skid, but they weren’t all that competitive in this one. Florida led comfortably in the first half and pulled away down the stretch after Mizzou provided a brief scare.
Florida: The Gators avoided a letdown and prevented what would have been a huge hit to their NCAA Tournament resume. They are one of just a handful of teams in the country to not have a loss outside Quad 1 games.
UP NEXT
Missouri: Hosts Mississippi on Saturday.
Florida: At No. 18 South Carolina on Saturday.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballandhttps://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Noah Carter vs. Micah Handlogten (Gators gains possession) | |||
19:53 | +2 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:19 | Tigers turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
18:56 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point dunk (Micah Handlogten assists) | 0-4 | |
18:38 | Will Richard personal foul (Tamar Bates draws the foul) | |||
18:20 | Noah Carter turnover (bad pass) (Walter Clayton Jr. steals) | |||
18:10 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
18:08 | Noah Carter defensive rebound | |||
18:04 | Sean East II turnover (lost ball) (Zyon Pullin steals) | |||
17:55 | Zyon Pullin misses two point layup | |||
17:53 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
17:49 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point putback dunk | 0-6 | |
17:42 | +2 | Sean East II makes two point floating jump shot | 2-6 | |
17:22 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
17:20 | Jordan Butler defensive rebound | |||
17:20 | Micah Handlogten personal foul (Jordan Butler draws the foul) | |||
17:08 | +3 | Tamar Bates makes three point jump shot (Sean East II assists) | 5-6 | |
16:50 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup (Walter Clayton Jr. assists) | 5-8 | |
16:50 | Jordan Butler shooting foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
16:50 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-9 | |
16:30 | Sean East II misses three point jump shot | |||
16:28 | Jesus Carralero Martin offensive rebound | |||
16:17 | Jesus Carralero Martin misses three point jump shot | |||
16:15 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
16:07 | Jordan Butler blocks Alex Condon's two point layup | |||
16:06 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
16:04 | Jordan Butler blocks Alex Condon's two point layup | |||
16:02 | Jordan Butler defensive rebound | |||
16:02 | Alex Condon personal foul | |||
15:39 | Tamar Bates misses two point layup | |||
15:37 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
15:32 | Will Richard misses two point layup | |||
15:30 | Will Richard offensive rebound | |||
15:30 | Jesus Carralero Martin shooting foul (Alex Condon draws the foul) | |||
15:30 | TV timeout | |||
15:30 | +1 | Alex Condon makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-10 | |
15:30 | Alex Condon misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
15:30 | Tamar Bates defensive rebound | |||
15:15 | Tamar Bates misses two point layup | |||
15:13 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
15:10 | Tyrese Samuel turnover (lost ball) | |||
14:44 | Mabor Majak misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
14:42 | Mabor Majak offensive rebound | |||
14:40 | Walter Clayton Jr. personal foul | |||
14:27 | +2 | Anthony Robinson II makes two point floating jump shot | 7-10 | |
14:16 | Alex Condon turnover (bad pass) (Nick Honor steals) | |||
14:08 | +2 | Tamar Bates makes two point floating jump shot | 9-10 | |
13:51 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup | 9-12 | |
13:30 | Jesus Carralero Martin offensive foul | |||
13:30 | Jesus Carralero Martin turnover (offensive foul) | |||
13:20 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
13:18 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
13:08 | +2 | Riley Kugel makes two point dunk (Walter Clayton Jr. assists) | 9-14 | |
12:48 | Thomas Haugh blocks Nick Honor's two point turnaround hook shot | |||
12:46 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:44 | Nick Honor shooting foul (Riley Kugel draws the foul) | |||
12:44 | Riley Kugel misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
12:44 | +1 | Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-15 | |
12:30 | +2 | Sean East II makes two point floating jump shot | 11-15 | |
12:13 | Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot | |||
12:11 | Jesus Carralero Martin defensive rebound | |||
11:43 | Tigers turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
11:41 | TV timeout | |||
11:20 | +2 | Micah Handlogten makes two point layup (Will Richard assists) | 11-17 | |
10:57 | Noah Carter misses two point layup | |||
10:55 | Mabor Majak offensive rebound | |||
10:49 | +2 | Mabor Majak makes two point turnaround hook shot | 13-17 | |
10:40 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:38 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
10:35 | +2 | Micah Handlogten makes two point layup | 13-19 | |
10:25 | Thomas Haugh personal foul (Noah Carter draws the foul) | |||
10:08 | Tamar Bates misses three point jump shot | |||
10:06 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
9:47 | +3 | Zyon Pullin makes three point jump shot (Will Richard assists) | 13-22 | |
9:23 | +2 | Tamar Bates makes two point layup (Sean East II assists) | 15-22 | |
9:09 | Will Richard turnover (bad pass) (Aidan Shaw steals) | |||
8:57 | Thomas Haugh blocks Sean East II's two point layup | |||
8:55 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
8:54 | Sean East II shooting foul (Will Richard draws the foul) | |||
8:54 | Will Richard misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:54 | +1 | Will Richard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-23 | |
8:37 | Tamar Bates misses two point jump shot | |||
8:35 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
8:29 | Thomas Haugh misses two point jump shot | |||
8:27 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Micah Handlogten misses two point layup | |||
8:17 | Connor Vanover defensive rebound | |||
8:11 | Nick Honor misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:09 | Nick Honor offensive rebound | |||
8:05 | Walter Clayton Jr. blocks Nick Honor's three point jump shot | |||
8:03 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
7:58 | +3 | Nick Honor makes three point jump shot (Tamar Bates assists) | 18-23 | |
7:36 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Denzel Aberdeen assists) | 18-26 | |
7:13 | +2 | Connor Vanover makes two point dunk (Nick Honor assists) | 20-26 | |
7:06 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:04 | Tigers defensive rebound | |||
7:03 | TV timeout | |||
6:45 | Denzel Aberdeen shooting foul (Nick Honor draws the foul) | |||
6:45 | +1 | Nick Honor makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-26 | |
6:45 | +1 | Nick Honor makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-26 | |
6:30 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup | 22-28 | |
6:19 | Nick Honor turnover (bad pass) | |||
6:00 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:58 | Connor Vanover defensive rebound | |||
5:37 | Tyrese Samuel blocks Jesus Carralero Martin's two point layup | |||
5:35 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
5:33 | Connor Vanover personal foul (Alex Condon draws the foul) | |||
5:31 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:29 | Connor Vanover defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | Alex Condon personal foul (Connor Vanover draws the foul) | |||
5:15 | +1 | Connor Vanover makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-28 | |
5:15 | +1 | Connor Vanover makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-28 | |
5:02 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:00 | Connor Vanover defensive rebound | |||
4:42 | Noah Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
4:40 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point floating jump shot | |||
4:32 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
4:28 | +2 | Micah Handlogten makes two point putback layup | 24-30 | |
4:14 | Nick Honor misses three point jump shot | |||
4:12 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
4:04 | Sean East II shooting foul (Zyon Pullin draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | Zyon Pullin misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:04 | +1 | Zyon Pullin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-31 | |
3:51 | +2 | Sean East II makes two point pullup jump shot | 26-31 | |
3:30 | Connor Vanover blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point layup | |||
3:28 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
3:19 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
3:17 | Jesus Carralero Martin defensive rebound | |||
3:17 | Tigers 30 second timeout | |||
3:17 | TV timeout | |||
3:03 | Sean East II misses two point jump shot | |||
3:01 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
2:42 | Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot | |||
2:40 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
2:40 | Jordan Butler personal foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
2:40 | Tigers technical foul | |||
2:40 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes technical free throw 1 of 2 | 26-32 | |
2:40 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes technical free throw 2 of 2 | 26-33 | |
2:40 | +1 | Tyrese Samuel makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-34 | |
2:40 | Tyrese Samuel misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:40 | Tamar Bates defensive rebound | |||
2:19 | +2 | Tamar Bates makes two point pullup jump shot | 28-34 | |
1:58 | Tyrese Samuel misses three point jump shot | |||
1:56 | Jordan Butler defensive rebound | |||
1:56 | Micah Handlogten personal foul (Jordan Butler draws the foul) | |||
1:56 | Jordan Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:56 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
1:38 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 28-37 | |
1:24 | Nick Honor misses three point jump shot | |||
1:22 | Gators defensive rebound | |||
1:09 | Tyrese Samuel turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Robinson II steals) | |||
0:59 | Sean East II misses three point jump shot | |||
0:57 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
0:45 | Zyon Pullin misses three point jump shot | |||
0:43 | Anthony Robinson II defensive rebound | |||
0:39 | Walter Clayton Jr. shooting foul (Tamar Bates draws the foul) | |||
0:35 | Tamar Bates misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:35 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
0:33 | Sean East II defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | Anthony Robinson II misses three point jump shot | |||
0:04 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |