Gators Fall Short in Road Loss Against South Carolina, 82-76

Four Gators score in double digits as Florida still comes up short in defeat to South Carolina.

With less than a minute to go, Walter Clayton Jr. tied the game at 74 apiece with a deep three-pointer. His heroics were short-lived as South Carolina's Meechie Johnson pulled up from beyond the arc and drained a three to give the Gamecocks the lead and ultimately the win.

Johnson finished with 25 points (10-of-15) and scored 21 in the second half as No. 18 SCAR held on to take down the No. 24 Florida Gators 82-76 at home Saturday. 

The Gators were careless with the ball to start the game. UF turned it over four times within the first five minutes but South Carolina only mustered four points in that span.

UF failed to muster offense early, but Zyon Pullin knocked down two midrange buckets to give Florida its only points five minutes in. 

South Carolina was scoreless for nearly three-and-a-half minutes before guard Jacobi Wright nailed consecutive triples to put SCAR up six. Zachary Davis hit a midrange jumper as the run hit 8-0 before Pullin hit a floater to end it.

The Gators responded with a run of their own and took the lead after Riley Kugel drained a catch-and-shoot corner three. The run peaked at 14-0 after Tyrese Samuel scored through contact and converted the three-point play. 

UF led 20-14 after the Gamecocks went on a five-minute-long scoring drought midway through the first half. 

Wright hit a free throw to end the run but Thomas Haugh hit a three-pointer to answer the point. SCAR cut the deficit to one point after Ta'lon Cooper knocked down an open three to cap off a 7-0 run.

The two sides traded baskets before Clayton hit a pair of triples late to give Florida a 37-31 lead at halftime. The Gators shot 45% from the floor as a team in the first half.

The Gamecocks shot 37% from the floor as Wright led them with 12 first-half points (4-for-7).

The sides traded baskets to open the second half. Johnson drove to the cup and scored through contact to cut the UF lead to three.

Clayton hit consecutive triples and Pullin hit a pair of free throws to give UF some breathing room midway through the second half. Pullin threw up a lob to Alex Condon, who slammed it home to give Florida a 10-point lead.

Josh Gray hit a tough bucket over Condon and hit a free throw to convert the three-point play to cut the UF lead down to six. 

The Gamecocks continued to use the charity stripe and tied the game at 63 after Collin Murray-Boyles hit a jumper and later knocked down a pair of free throws. Johnson worked down low for a layup to cap off a 10-0 run and give SCAR a two-point lead.

Tyrese Samuel hit a floater to tie the game back at 65 late in the game. Cooper and Clayton traded triples to tie the game at 68 apiece with less than four minutes in the game. 

Johnson hit a long two and later put grabbed blocked shot for a layup to give South Carolina a four-point lead.

Kugel hit an open corner three to make it a one-point game. South Carolina responded, but Clayton hit a deep triple to tie it. Clayton led UF in scoring with 20 points (6-of-12).

With less than a minute to go, Johnson pulled up from deep and buried a three-pointer to give the Gamecocks a late lead. Pullin missed a layup late as SCAR iced the game away at the free throw line. 

Florida shot 48% from the floor as they fell on the road, while the Gamecocks shot 47% overall in the win. 

The Gators (20-9, 10-6 SEC) will return to Gainesville for their final home game of the 2023-24 season against the Alabama Crimson Tide, who beat them in overtime in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

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