Sports | Men's Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

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Chiozza beats buzzer again to lead Florida past Missouri

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 6, 2018

Chris Chiozza saw it coming the whole way.

Egor Koulechov went 5-of-6 from three-point range and led the Gators with 19 points against the Aggies in College Station, Texas, Tuesday night.

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Gators beat Aggies behind barrage of three-point shots

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 2, 2018

Florida center Kevarrius Hayes threw down an emphatic putback slam after guard Egor Koulechov botched a layup attempt, sending the Gators’ bench to its feet and disappointed Aggies fans out of Reed Arena.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza scored 17 points in Florida’s 81-74 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday to open SEC play.

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Gators stave off late comeback from Vanderbilt to win SEC opener

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 30, 2017

With the Gators leading by four points with 43 seconds left in the game, Florida guard Chris Chiozza drove past Vanderbilt forward Clevon Brown from the top of the three-point line and converted a contested layup to seal the victory for UF.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza recorded 16 points, four assists, four steals and no turnovers on Friday in UF's 75-60 win over Incarnate Word at the O'Connell Center.

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Florida edges past Incarnate Word behind play of Chris Chiozza

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 22, 2017

Chris Chiozza stripped the ball from Incarnate Word guard Keaton Hervey, spun to his left and fired a pass to teammate KeVaughn Allen.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza recorded 19 points, seven assists and three steals in UF's 72-63 win over James Madison on Wednesday at the O'Connell Center.

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Chiozza’s performance helps Florida defeat James Madison on Wednesday

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 20, 2017

Chris Chiozza stole the ball from a James Madison guard late in the first half, sprinted down the court and scored an uncontested layup.

Jalen Hudson scored 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting in the Gators' 71-69 loss to Clemson on Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

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Despite 22 points from Hudson, Gators fall to Tigers in Orange Bowl Classic, 71-69

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 16, 2017

As a three-point jumper from Florida guard KeVaughn Allen clanked off the side of the rim, Clemson forward Elijah Thomas started sprinting down the court.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza scored 15 points on Saturday in Florida's 66-60 win over Cincinnati at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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No. 5 Florida outlasts No. 17 Cincinnati to snap losing spell

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 9, 2017

Chris Chiozza signaled for his teammates to move away from the right side of the court with the game tied at 60.

Florida guard Jalen Hudson scored a season-low nine points in Florida's 65-59 loss to Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday. "This is as low as we can get," Hudson said.

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Sloppy play leads to third straight loss for No. 5 Gators

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 6, 2017

Trailing by two with less than a minute remaining in the game, KeVaughn Allen drove down the court. The junior guard galloped to the right side of the lane, throwing up a layup that was tightly contested by a Loyola-Chicago defender.

Following Florida's 83-66 loss to FSU Monday night in the O'Connell Center, Mike White said the Gators struggled in transition defense, limiting turnovers and rebounding.

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After being bullied by FSU, Gators can bounce back tonight

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 5, 2017

Mike White sat silently in front of reporters Monday night, ruminating in disappointment.

The freshman tandem of Mike Okauru and Deaundrae Ballard combined for 11 points and 10 rebounds in 31 valuable minutes of action during Florida's 83-66 loss against FSU on Monday in the O'Connell Center.

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Freshman guards lone bright spot in Florida’s loss

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 4, 2017

Freshman guard Mike Okauru received an inbounds pass 15 minutes into the first half and immediately knew what to do with the ball.

Both Florida and FSU were called for a plethora of fouls in the first half — 22 to be exact — in the Gators’ 83-66 loss to their in-state rival on Monday night. Centers Kevarrius Hayes and Gorjok Gak couldn't create a presence under the basket, collected a combined six rebounds.

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'The epitome of soft': Gators fall to FSU for fourth consecutive year

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 4, 2017

When Gorjok Gak walked onto the floor of the O’Connell Center, his first defensive play didn’t go as planned. Right away, the 6-foot-11 center fouled a driving MJ Walker, and Florida State extended its lead to 14-7.

Egor Koulechov led the team in rebounding during the 2017-18 season

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Column: The Gators were humiliated by Florida State — and that’s exactly what they needed.

By Matt Brannon | Dec. 4, 2017

Egor Koulechov’s tone of voice matched the way Florida played in an 83-66 home loss: soft.

Despite this being his first season playing for Florida, redshirt junior Jalen Hudson has experience facing the Seminoles. The guard averaged 7.8 points in four previous matchups with FSU while he played at Virginia Tech.

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‘Got to protect our house’: Gators host Florida State tonight in O’Dome

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 3, 2017

In recent years, Florida State has wrangled Florida in multiple sports.

Florida guard Jalen Hudson said the team's No. 6 ranking sounds nice, but doesn't take much stock in it. "Every night, you have to show up."

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Notebook: Gators boast best offense in the country

By Skyler Lebron | Nov. 30, 2017

Six games into the season, Florida's offense is already garnering national attention.

After his showing at the Phil Knight Invitational last week, Chiozza has proven he's the Gators’ “grimiest” player, someone that can be relied on in close games. Look no further than Florida’s double-overtime win against Gonzaga, when Chiozza registered 26 points and 10 assists in a career-high 46 minutes of action.

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Gators guard Chiozza brings 'griminess' his coach is looking for

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 28, 2017

Before the season began, UF coach Mike White questioned if the Gators can compete with “griminess” and resilience. The play of point guard Chris Chiozza has given him an answer.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, right, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Beal’s NBA record and other Gators in the NBA

By Benjamin Brandt | Nov. 27, 2017

On Nov. 20, former Florida Gator Bradley Beal made NBA history.

Florida made the championship game of the Phil Knight Invitational's Motion Bracket, where they faced No. 1 Duke.

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Column: Three ways the Phil Knight Invitational helped Florida’s bid for a national title

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 26, 2017

After a thrilling double-overtime win against No. 17 Gonzaga on Friday, the Gators played No. 1 Duke in the Phil Knight Invitational championship game on Sunday.

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen, right, shoots over Duke guard Trevon Duval during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

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No. 7 Gators fall to No. 1 Duke, 87-84, in final of Phil Knight Invitational

By The Associated Press | Nov. 26, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. — Marvin Bagley III had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and No. 1 Duke rallied late to beat No. 7 Florida 87-84 on Sunday night for the Motion Bracket championship at the Phil Knight Invitational tournament.

Florida guard Jalen Hudson, right, shoots over Gonzaga guard Josh Perkins during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Ore., Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Florida won 111-105. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

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No. 7 Gators win 111-105 in double-OT battle over No. 17 Gonzaga

By Skyler Lebron | Nov. 24, 2017

Tied at 97 nearly halfway through the game’s second overtime, Jalen Hudson paced himself, finding a crease on the left side early in the shot clock.

UF guard Jalen Hudson scored 17 points off four three-pointers in Florida's 108-87 win against Stanford on Thursday in the Phil Knight Invitational.

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Three-pointers propel Florida past Stanford in Phil Knight Invitational

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 23, 2017

First it was Jalen Hudson splashing a three-pointer, then 90 seconds later, it was Egor Koulechov sinking his own.