FINAL: Xavier 90, Florida 83

PHIL KNIGHT LEGACY (“PK85”) 

XAVIER 90, FLORIDA 83

WHAT HAPPENED: Guards Colby Jones and Souley Boum mixed for 44 factors, and the Musketeers used a mid-second half flurry to grab management of the sport and end off the Gators in Thursday’s opening-round play of the Phil Knight Legacy at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. Xavier led by 4 to start out the second half, however the Gators hit six of their first seven pictures to surge in entrance. The Musketeers, although, went on a run of eight straight factors, together with back-to-back 3s (the primary by Jones, the second by reserve guard Desmond Claude) that bracketed a steal and run-out missed dunk by UF sophomore ahead Alex Fudge, an enormous momentum swing. The Gators fell again by as many as 11 with simply over eight minutes to go however managed 3 times to make it a one-possession Musketeers’ lead, the final time with 2:43 to play. UF performed glorious protection on the following possession and compelled a missed 3, however XU grabbed the offensive rebound, and guard Adam Kunkel made the Gators pay with a driving second-chance layup that began a spurt of six straight for the Musketeers, who closed out from there. Jones and Boum every scored 22 factors, whereas combining to make 15 of 26 pictures, 5 of 3-point makes an attempt and 9 of 10 free throws. All 5 Musketeers starters scored in double figures, with 7-foot Jack Nunge posting 16 factors and 9 boards, whereas additionally burying a pair 3s. XU shot a torrid 55.9 % for the sport, together with 53 within the second half, and went 10-for-20 from the 3-point line for the sport (50 %). UF, which was led by 23 factors from junior guard Trey Bonham, the switch from Virginia Military Institute making his first begin, shot 44.3 % total and went 9-for-27 from deep (33.3 %). Sophomore guard Will Richard, the Belmont switch, had his Florida high-scoring recreation with 18 factors to go together with seven rebounds. Fifth-year senior ahead Colin Castleton, who got here in averaging 25.3 factors per recreation, had 11 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. 

WHAT IT MEANS: UF had an opportunity at a type of all-important Quadrant-1 victories, so far as the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ranks are involved. Actually, the Gators had a shot at two of them, as a first-round win would have purchased a second-round Q-1 alternative, however now it is about getting wins and ending as sturdy as attainable on this event subject. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bonham sparked the Gators of their comeback final Friday evening at Florida State and changed Kowacie Reeves within the beginning lineup. He didn’t disappoint. The 6-footer made 9 of his 19 pictures, two of seven 3-point tries, grabbed three rebounds and dished two assists over 29 minutes. 

STAGGERING  STATISTIC: Need to do a evaluate of the “at-the-rim” misses by the Gators. Not positive what number of that they had, however they have been too many towards an opponent hitting 56 %. 

UP NEXT: Florida (3-2) fell into the losers’ facet of the Legacy bracket and can face Oregon State (4-2) Friday at 3 p.m. ET. The Beavers have been overwhelmed 54-51 by eighth-ranked (*83*) within the event opener Thursday.