Richard and Clayton shine as Florida knocks off No. 16 Alabama 105-87 and improves to 14-1 at home
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Two weeks after getting bullied by Alabama, Florida refused to let it happen again. Not at home. And not on senior night.
Will Richard scored 23 points, Walter Clayton Jr. added 22 and the Gators handled No. 16 Alabama 105-87 on Tuesday night to stay in contention for a top four seed in the upcoming Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Florida (21-9, 11-6 SEC) made 40 free throws - the program's most since December 1998 - and won for the 10th time in 13 games. The Gators finished 14-1 at home this season, and equally important to coach Todd Golden, they moved a step closer to potentially landing a double bye in the league tourney.
“We were very physical,” Golden said. “We did what we needed to do to beat the best offensive team in America.”
Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin chipped in 19 points and six rebounds apiece after being honored before their home finale. The graduate transfers helped Florida avenge an overtime loss at Alabama last month and hand the Crimson Tide (20-10, 12-5) a third loss in four games.
"I thought Tyrese was a monster," Golden said. “And ZP was just a calming influence out there. Both those guys were just a huge, huge reason as to why we won.”
Samuel made all nine of his shots from the charity stripe, and Pullin was 8 for 8.
Florida took 21 more free throws than Alabama and made twice as many.
“It’s not a recipe for winning games when you get doubled up at the free-throw line," Alabama coach Nate Oats said.
The biggest surprise was how easily the Gators controlled the rematch. They opened up a double-digit lead late in the first half, extended it to 20 midway through the second and never let up.
It was a huge sigh of relief for a team that hadn’t shown a knack for delivering knockout punches. Florida had lost five games after leading at the break, and several of those included double-digit advantages.
“It’s definitely not a good feeling letting a team come back on you," Clayton said. “We just got to be mentally tough, go up 10 and get your foot on the gas and not let up.”
Added Richard: “I don’t think we let ourselves off the hook (this time). I feel like we can get lazy once when we get up on a team. For us, it’s just staying disciplined.”
Mark Sears led Alabama with 33 points, including 29 in the second half. Aaron Estrada added 17 points, and Grant Nelson chipped in 12 before fouling out late.
Alabama's Rylan Griffen was helped off the floor and to the locker room with 4;15 remaining after colliding with Florida's Richard. Oats, who drew a technical foul while arguing it should have been a foul, said Griffen has a calf injury that will require more tests Wednesday.
“They were very physical with us,” Oats said. “We had some offensive frustrations and some defensive letdowns.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida should have a chance to move back into the next AP college basketball poll.
WRIGHTSELL RETURNS
Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. returned after missing the last four games following a concussion. Wrightsell finished with two points in eight minutes.
SENIOR NIGHT
Pullin and Samuel were among five players recognized in pregame ceremonies that included family, friends and framed jerseys. The other three were walk-ons Jack May, Alex Klatsky and Bennett Andersen. May’s father is current Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The Crimson Tide lost consecutive games for the first time since dropping three in a row in early December. This was the first unranked team Alabama has lost to since Clemson upset the Tide in late November.
Florida: The Gators have been close to unbeatable at home, with the lone loss coming against Kentucky to begin 2024. They closed the season with eight consecutive wins in the O'Connell Center but will need to bottle that energy and take it on the road for the postseason.
UP NEXT
Alabama wraps up the regular season at home against Arkansas on Saturday.
Florida ends the regular season at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Jarin Stevenson vs. Micah Handlogten (Gators gains possession) | |||
19:54 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point layup | |||
19:52 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
19:44 | Will Richard misses two point jump shot | |||
19:42 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
19:33 | Micah Handlogten personal foul (Aaron Estrada draws the foul) | |||
19:23 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
19:21 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
19:09 | Micah Handlogten misses two point layup | |||
19:07 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
18:59 | Rylan Griffen shooting foul (Micah Handlogten draws the foul) | |||
18:59 | +1 | Micah Handlogten makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-1 | |
18:59 | Micah Handlogten misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
18:59 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
18:45 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:43 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
18:36 | +2 | Jarin Stevenson makes two point layup (Aaron Estrada assists) | 2-1 | |
18:17 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
18:15 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
18:04 | Grant Nelson turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Samuel steals) | |||
17:59 | Will Richard misses two point layup | |||
17:57 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
17:49 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point layup (Jarin Stevenson assists) | 4-1 | |
17:23 | Tyrese Samuel misses three point jump shot | |||
17:21 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
17:13 | Rylan Griffen turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Samuel steals) | |||
16:56 | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul) | |||
16:56 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-2 | |
16:56 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-3 | |
16:45 | Rylan Griffen turnover (bad pass) (Micah Handlogten steals) | |||
16:38 | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul) | |||
16:38 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-4 | |
16:38 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-5 | |
16:26 | Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) | |||
16:11 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
16:09 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
16:02 | Grant Nelson misses two point layup | |||
16:00 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
15:56 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point dunk (Walter Clayton Jr. assists) | 4-7 | |
15:42 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
15:40 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
15:31 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
15:29 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
15:23 | +2 | Sam Walters makes two point layup | 6-7 | |
15:10 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point hook shot | |||
15:08 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
14:56 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
14:54 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
14:49 | Jump ball. (Crimson Tide gains possession) | |||
14:49 | TV timeout | |||
14:35 | Thomas Haugh shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | |||
14:35 | Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
14:35 | Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
14:35 | Riley Kugel defensive rebound | |||
14:22 | +2 | Thomas Haugh makes two point layup | 6-9 | |
14:00 | Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Zyon Pullin steals) | |||
13:52 | Thomas Haugh misses three point jump shot | |||
13:50 | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | |||
13:44 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
13:42 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
13:41 | Riley Kugel personal foul | |||
13:32 | Thomas Haugh personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
13:21 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup | 8-9 | |
13:08 | +2 | Alex Condon makes two point dunk (Riley Kugel assists) | 8-11 | |
12:39 | +2 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes two point jump shot | 10-11 | |
12:24 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point jump shot | 10-13 | |
12:14 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point jump shot | 12-13 | |
12:02 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
12:00 | Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
11:50 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
11:49 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
11:49 | Mouhamed Dioubate personal foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul) | |||
11:49 | TV timeout | |||
11:39 | +2 | Riley Kugel makes two point layup (Zyon Pullin assists) | 12-15 | |
11:26 | Grant Nelson misses two point layup | |||
11:24 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Jump ball. (Gators gains possession) | |||
10:53 | Gators turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
10:31 | Mark Sears misses two point jump shot | |||
10:29 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | Aaron Estrada personal foul (Micah Handlogten draws the foul) | |||
9:54 | Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot | |||
9:52 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | Alex Condon turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
9:50 | Riley Kugel personal foul | |||
9:35 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
9:33 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
9:20 | +3 | Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 12-18 | |
9:05 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 14-18 | |
9:00 | Walter Clayton Jr. turnover (bad pass) | |||
8:43 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point layup | 16-18 | |
8:43 | Micah Handlogten shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | |||
8:43 | +1 | Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-18 | |
8:20 | Alex Condon misses two point hook shot | |||
8:19 | Nick Pringle defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Alex Condon personal foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | |||
8:19 | Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:19 | Grant Nelson offensive rebound | |||
8:04 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point layup | 19-18 | |
7:36 | +3 | Denzel Aberdeen makes three point jump shot | 19-21 | |
7:33 | TV timeout | |||
7:19 | Mark Sears misses two point jump shot | |||
7:17 | Rylan Griffen offensive rebound | |||
7:11 | Rylan Griffen misses two point jump shot | |||
7:09 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Jump ball. Alex Condon vs. Rylan Griffen (Crimson Tide gains possession) | |||
7:09 | Alex Condon turnover (lost ball) (Rylan Griffen steals) | |||
6:57 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
6:55 | Gators defensive rebound | |||
6:43 | Nick Pringle personal foul (Tyrese Samuel draws the foul) | |||
6:30 | Tyrese Samuel offensive foul | |||
6:30 | Tyrese Samuel turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:16 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:14 | Rylan Griffen offensive rebound | |||
6:08 | Alex Condon shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul) | |||
6:08 | +1 | Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-21 | |
6:08 | +1 | Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-21 | |
5:55 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
5:53 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
5:50 | +2 | Alex Condon makes two point hook shot | 21-23 | |
5:38 | Alex Condon blocks Nick Pringle's two point dunk | |||
5:36 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup | 21-25 | |
5:12 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point cutting layup | 23-25 | |
5:05 | Grant Nelson personal foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul) | |||
5:05 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-26 | |
5:05 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-27 | |
4:52 | Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot | |||
4:50 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
4:47 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point dunk | 23-29 | |
4:46 | Crimson Tide 30 second timeout | |||
4:29 | Grant Nelson turnover (bad pass) | |||
4:09 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point layup | 23-31 | |
3:56 | Tyrese Samuel personal foul (Aaron Estrada draws the foul) | |||
3:56 | TV timeout | |||
3:56 | +1 | Aaron Estrada makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-31 | |
3:56 | Aaron Estrada misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:56 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
3:56 | Sam Walters personal foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul) | |||
3:56 | Thomas Haugh misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
3:56 | Sam Walters defensive rebound | |||
3:44 | +2 | Davin Cosby Jr. makes two point layup | 26-31 | |
3:37 | Nick Pringle personal foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:37 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-32 | |
3:37 | +1 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-33 | |
3:22 | Davin Cosby Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Walter Clayton Jr. steals) | |||
3:10 | +2 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point dunk (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 26-35 | |
2:54 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 28-35 | |
2:43 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point jump shot | 28-37 | |
2:29 | Grant Nelson turnover (lost ball) (Will Richard steals) | |||
2:10 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
2:08 | Will Richard offensive rebound | |||
2:02 | Will Richard turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals) | |||
1:57 | Sam Walters misses two point layup | |||
1:55 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
1:53 | Sam Walters misses two point hook shot | |||
1:51 | Thomas Haugh defensive rebound | |||
1:48 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point dunk (Walter Clayton Jr. assists) | 28-39 | |
1:42 | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 31-39 | |
1:26 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 31-42 | |
1:14 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 33-42 | |
1:00 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point hook shot | |||
0:58 | Will Richard offensive rebound | |||
0:51 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point jump shot | 33-44 | |
0:41 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 35-44 | |
0:07 | Sam Walters blocks Zyon Pullin's two point jump shot | |||
0:05 | Sam Walters defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |