What Occurred
Florida seldom-used sophomore guard Denzel Aberdeen got here off the bench to submit profession highs of 20 factors and 4 steals and sparked a shocking comeback from 18 factors down, because the sixth-seeded Gators rallied to overhaul seventh-seeded Texas A&M with a 95-90 victory within the Southeastern Convention Event semifinals at Bridgestone Area in Nashville, Tenn. The win put UF in its first SEC Event title recreation in a decade (extra on that under) in simply the second season below Coach Todd Golden. The Gators prevailed with out making a area objective over the ultimate 3:21, because the 11-point lead they constructed — after a 29-point rating distinction from the primary half — proved sufficient as a result of the Gators went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line down the stretch, with guards Zyon Pullin and Will Richard twice flattening clutch pairs to carry off the determined Aggies. Aberdeen, who averaged 2.5 factors and eight.6 minutes by way of the season’s first 34 video games, got here off the bench to hit six of his 9 photographs, together with 4 of 5 from the 3-point line and all 4 of his free throws over 23 stellar minutes. Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. had 16 factors, together with a killer 4-point play late within the second half on his fifth made 3 of the sport, whereas Richard and Pullin each had 15 factors every and mixed for 5 3s. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel had 16 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks. For the sport, the Gators shot 49.1 %, but it surely was their total second half show — on each ends of the ground — that made the distinction. UF hit 55 % after intermission and held A&M to only 34.4, together with solely 2-for-8 from deep after the Aggies nailed six of 13 within the first half on the best way to opening the massive lead. The Aggies used a run of 20-6, whereas the Gators have been lacking eight of 9 photographs, to construct an 18-point benefit, at 40-22, with simply over 5 minutes to go within the first half. A&M would go on to shoot 50 % within the first interval, but its lead was lower to eight, 50-42, on the break, in nice half because of 12 factors Aberdeen. 4 minutes into the second half, the Gators had closed to inside in two and on the 13:48 mark took their first lead of the sport on Clayton 3-ball. Three minutes later, Florida was up six. Seven minutes later, the Gators have been up 11, at 86-75, with 3:21 to go, however the Aggies hacked up the sport with full-court stress and many fouls attempting to create additional possessions. They obtained as shut as 4, at 92-88, however UF free throws completed the comeback. Florida went 27 of 35 for the sport (77.1 %) in a close to free-throw stalmate with A&M, which was 26 of 32 (81.3) in a recreation when 49 fouls have been referred to as. Aggies All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV led all scorers with 30 factors. For UF the win snapped a five-losing streak within the sequence, courting to 2022, with the 5 losses coming by a mixed 5 factors.
What it Means
Not solely will the Gators play for his or her first SEC Event championship in 10 years, however they’re going to accomplish that with one other Quadrant 1 victory (the second in as many days) rolled into their NCAA Event resume, with an opportunity at a 3rd. Learn on.
Within the Highlight
Take a bow, Denzel. He had a extremely good future forward of him on this program, however the Florida followers may not have identified it. Now they do.
Staggering Statistic
UF will play a fourth recreation in 4 days for the primary time since Dec. 14-17, 1942 when the Gators (and the remainder of the league, as a consequence of World Conflict II) performed a non-conventional schedule that had them at Mississippi State for 2 video games in two days and at Ole Miss for 2 extra after that.
Up Subsequent
Florida (24-10) will face Twelfth-ranked and fourth-seeded Auburn (26-7), a 73-66 winner over No. 9-seed Mississippi State within the early semifinal, for the 2024 SEC Event championship. The sport, set for a 1 p.m. (ET) tip-off, will mark the Gators’ first look within the title recreation because the 2014 crew that swept by way of the convention season an ideal 18-0, then swept by way of the match with wins over Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky on the Georgia Dome for the fourth crown in program historical past.