Saturday’s game was a must-win — one last chance in the regular season for Florida to prove its postseason worth.
The Gators didn’t let it go to waste.
Florida broke its four-game losing streak and defeated Missouri 82-72 in Columbia on Saturday night in the final regular-season game before the Southeastern Conference Tournament. With the win, the Gators earned the No. 8 seed in next week’s tournament as UF continues to fight for the right for an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Gators (18-13, 9-9 SEC) took advantage of Missouri’s 204th nationally-ranked scoring defense (allowing 72.7 points per game) and scored 80-plus points for just the second time in their last nine games. Florida shot 42.9 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from three-point range and converted 25-of-33 free throw attempts. The Gators never trailed in the game and at one point early in the second half led by 21 points.
“It’s nice to get back on the right side of the win-loss column,” UF coach Mike White said.
Redshirt senior Dorian Finney-Smith led the way for the Gators with 20 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Chris Chiozza stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals in a team-high 32 minutes. Freshman KeVaughn Allen added 13 points and sophomore Devin Robinson had 11 points and five rebounds.
Florida’s 75.8 free throw percentage was a large improvement from its 43.2 percent effort in Tuesday’s loss to Kentucky.
“I thought we made some good decisions down the stretch, led by Chris Chiozza,” White said. “That three-guard lineup late in the game just sealed the deal, kind of iced it for us, making good decisions with the basketball.”
Missouri (10-21, 3-15 SEC) made a late-game push and cut Florida’s lead to seven points with just 1:04 remaining, but the Gators’ ability to convert at the charity stripe sealed the win for UF.
Sophomore Namon Wright led the Tigers with 19 points, freshman Terrence Phillips registered a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and lone Missouri senior Ryan Rosburg scored 11 points in his final game as a Tiger on senior night.
Saturday’s loss was the last game of the season for the Tigers because of a self-imposed postseason ban for violating NCAA rules.
But for Florida, the win served as momentum as it prepares for the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Instead of entering the tournament having lost five straight games, UF enters with more promise of making the NCAA Tournament. The Gators will Face Arkansas at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
“It’s a clean slate for everyone in the SEC. It’s up for grabs,” White said. “Everyone’s got a chance to do something special.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Contact Alex Maminakis at amaminakis@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @alexmaminakis.
UF guard Chris Chiozza drives into the paint during Florida's 87-83 win over Arkansas on Feb. 3, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.
