In the closing moments of Tuesday’s game, the Gators were likely feeling a sense of déjà vu.
Just four days earlier, UF gave away its contest against Mississippi State due to poor free-throw shooting down the stretch.
Against Vanderbilt, UF’s free-throw struggles nearly cost the Gators the game in regulation, but senior forward Chandler Parsons remained calm.
With 15 seconds left in overtime and the Gators up by two, Parsons stepped to the line and coolly knocked down both of his free throws, securing a 65-61 Florida (17-5, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) win over Vanderbilt (15-6, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) on Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.
“I just needed to be a man, go up there and put the ball in the hole,” Parsons said. “It’s all mental. I just stepped up there and knocked it down, and I was fortunate to do that for my team in a clutch situation.”
Parsons’ free-throws were the icing on an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double.
The senior forward also chipped in two assists and three steals en route to one of his most complete games of the season.
“He rebounded the ball, he was aggressive and he was physical,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “He did a lot of really good things for us all the way around.”
The Gators had an eight-point lead with 4:51 to play but scored just one point the rest of regulation, going 1 for 4 at the line and 0 for 6 from the field.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt connected on its final six free throws, evoking memories of previous late losses.
“It would’ve been awful,” Parsons said of the prospect of losing another game because of free throws. “There’s no way around it: Losing is terrible. I’m just glad we made some big plays tonight to get the W.”
Rebounding was a huge factor in the game, particularly in the final moments, as Parsons earned his spot at the line when he rebounded his own miss with UF leading by two.
Overall, UF was dominant on the glass, establishing a 47-34 advantage, with 15 of its rebounds coming on the offensive end.
Five players had at least five boards, as seemingly everyone got involved in the physicality of the contest.
“That was by far the most physical game we played all year long,” Donovan said.
Florida’s advantage inside was aided by Vanderbilt’s foul trouble, as frontcourt stalwarts Festus Ezeli, Jeffery Taylor and Steve Tchiengang all fouled out late in the contest.
“That was real important,” Parsons said. “When it gets to overtime it’s hard not to pick up that fifth foul. We were fortunate those guys … got in foul trouble early so we could get them out of the game.”
The second half was a streaky affair filled with runs for both sides.
UF seemed poised to take control of the game when it went on a 7-0 run to take an eight-point lead, but Vanderbilt quickly responded with an 8-1 stretch of its own to close the gap.
UF followed with a 9-2 spurt, giving the Gators an eight-point lead that evaporated as Vanderbilt closed out the final 4:51 with a 9-1 run.
Both teams got off to hot starts before cooling off from the field. Florida and Vanderbilt combined for 18 points in the first four minutes but scored just 31 the rest of the half.
Vanderbilt was set to take a lead into halftime, until Parsons inbounded the ball to Walker with just one second remaining and the junior hit a 30-foot buzzer beater to give UF a one-point halftime lead.
