Undermanned but Unstoppable: How the Gators Overcame Adversity in their Victory over Mississippi State

Thomas Haugh loads up a 3-pointer from the corner over Riley Kugel (UAA Photo)

As if 3rd-ranked Florida (21-3, 8-3 SEC) needed any extra motivation, Mississippi State’s RJ Melendez provided all they needed 30 seconds into Tuesday night’s game in Starkville. On an inbounds play that resulted in a midair collision, Condon came down on Melendez’s ankle. Whistled for a foul, Melendez gave a who me look to the zebras. Condon was on the floor, clutching his ankle, writing in pain.

Florida coach Todd Golden apparently saw more to it than simply a collision that resulted in a sprained ankle.  

“I didn't like the play,” Golden said. “I thought it was a dirty play … exacerbated by the pull-down, the horse collar, and really disappointed for that to happen to one of your very good players early in the ball game, and at the same time I think it lit a fire under our group. I thought we responded the right way, and I thought our guys did a heck of a job of stepping up in his absence."

Sparks turn into brush fires. Brush fires turn into raging infernos. That’s what happened at Humphrey Coliseum where the Gators turned a 34-33 first half deficit into a 58-38 lead in the first 6:19 of the second half. From that 25-4 blitz the Gators cruised to an 81-68 win over the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs (17-7, 5-6 SEC).

The prospects of a second straight SEC road win over a ranked team, seemed to take a hit when Condon went down, leaving the Gators to play 39:30 with a 3-man rotation of big guys. Making matters worse, the Gators were already playing without second leading scorer and the SEC’s best perimeter defender Alijah Martin, still dealing with the lingering effects of a hip pointer suffered in last week’s win over Vanderbilt.

One team’s disaster is another team’s opportunity. The Gators simply made the best of the situation, turning to a pair of baby-faced assassins to plunge multiple stilettos into the Mississippi State hearts. Denzel Aberdeen, making his third straight start and second in place of Martin, scored a career and game-high 20 points to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was his third consecutive game in double figures. Thomas Haugh came off the bench to flirt with a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

When the Gators took the floor to start the second half, Aberdeen needed only 16 seconds to nail a 3-pointer that was like throwing a 40-gallon drum of gasoline on the first half fire. Aberdeen got behind the MSU defense for a couple of fast break dunks during Florida’s spurt.

“Like he doesn't start for us, but he's a starter-level player, and he's played like an all-league player for the past couple games stepping up,” Golden said. “And again, just a guy that's improved dramatically, you know, in his time in Gainesville, and he's just playing with so much poise and confidence right now and just his ability to get in the paint and play off two feet, finish around the rim, hit big threes, been very good defensively.”

In the first 6:19 of the second half, Haugh hit a pair of 3-pointers, handed out four assists, grabbed two rebounds and stole the ball twice. In the last three games, Haugh has scored 40 points to go with 27 rebounds, 15 assists, six blocked shots and four steals.

Golden gushed about Haugh’s effort.

“We just have a very good team this year, and we have multiple guys that can do it, but Tommy is, you know, one of the guys that delivers the heartbeat for this team, and the passion in which he plays, the toughness, the consistency, of being as coachable as he is to go out and execute on the floor what the coaches want him to do is everything. And for him to go 16, nine and eight with two blocks and two steals. It's an elite effort for him tonight."

In the first half, the Gators were able to get nearly any shot they wanted. Getting the shots and knocking them down, however, was a completely different story. The Gators made only 11-30 from the field and 6-20 from the 3-point line. What saved the day from becoming a disaster was Florida’s defense, which held the Bulldogs to 12-33 from the field and 2-15 from the 3-point line. The Bulldogs held the halftime lead largely because they held a 26-16 advantage on the backboards and an 18-8 margin in the paint.

Aberdeen’s 3-pointer to start the second half gave the Gators the lead for good at 36-34. Over the next five minutes, Florida would hit five more threes. Florida’s offense was cooking, but the Gators were equally efficient on the defensive end. It wasn’t until Mississippi State’s 10th possession of the second half that they put any point on the board and by then the Gators already had a 50-36 lead.

The lead would expand to 24 (74-50) with 6:31 to go. The Bulldogs would cut into the lead, but Florida was never really threatened.

For the second straight game, five Gators scored in double figures. Walter Clayton Jr. had another brilliant game with 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and only one turnover.

“Guarding, rebounding down, you know, five defensive rebounds, and, you know, I can't say enough about him,” Golden said. “He's an amazing player. He’s gonna be playing the NBA next year, and we're gonna enjoy him, you know, as long as we have him here in Gainesville."

Will Richard scored 10 and Rueben Chinyelu, after being held to no points and no rebounds, contributed 10 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in the second half.

The Gators will be home Saturday night to face South Carolina (10-13, 0-10 SEC) at the O-Dome (8:30 p.m., SEC Network).

CONDON UPDATE: “Good news on the X-Ray,” Golden said. “It came back clean. At this time, we think it's a low ankle sprain, which is obviously better than a high ankle sprain, or anything more serious.”

Game Notes: This was the first time in Florida basketball history that the Gators have won consecutive games on the road against ranked teams. The Gators have beaten ranked teams in consecutive games only 10 times in school history … The Gators finished the game 28-61 (45.9 percent) and 14-36 (38.9 percent) from the 3-point line … With their 19 assists against Mississippi State, the Gators have 61 assists in their last three games.  

SEC BASKETBALL

Tuesday scores

No. 6 FLORIDA (21-3, 8-3 SEC) 81, NO. 22 Mississippi State (17-7, 5-6 SEC) 68

No. 1 Auburn (22-2, 10-1 SEC) 80, Vanderbilt (17-7, 5-6 SEC) 68

No. 2 Alabama (21-3, 10-1 SEC) 103, Texas (15-10, 4-8 SEC) 80

No. 15 Kentucky (17-7, 6-5 SEC) 75, No. 5 Tennessee (20-5, 7-5 SEC) 64

No. 8 Texas A&M (19-5, 8-3 SEC) 69, Georgia (16-9, 4-8 SEC) 53

Today’s games

Oklahoma (16-7, 3-7 SEC) at No. 15 Missouri (17-6, 6-4 SEC)

No. 25 Ole Miss (18-6, 7-4 SEC) at South Carolina (10-13, 0-10 SEC)

LSU (12-11, 1-9 SEC) at Arkansas (14-9, 3-7 SEC)

Saturday’s games

South Carolina (10-13, 0-10 SEC) at No. 3 FLORIDA (21-3, 8-3 SEC)

No. 1 Auburn (22-2, 10-1 SEC) at No. 3 Alabama (21-3, 10-1 SEC)

Vanderbilt (17-7, 5-6 SEC) No. 4 Tennessee (20-5, 7-5 SEC)

Arkansas (14-9, 3-7 SEC) at No. 10 Texas A&M (19-5, 8-3 SEC)

No. 14 Kentucky (17-7, 6-5 SEC) at Texas (15-10, 4-8 SEC)

No. 15 Missouri (17-6, 6-4 SEC) at Georgia (16-9, 4-8 SEC)

No. 22 Mississippi State (17-7, 5-6 SEC) at No. 25 Ole Miss (18-6, 7-4 SEC)

LSU (12-11, 1-9 SEC) at Oklahoma (16-7, 3-7 SEC)

UF SOFTBALL: SHUMAKER HOMERS AGAIN, GATORS RUN-RULE JU

Taylor Shumaker may only be a freshman, but every time she swings her bat it sends ripples throughout the college softball world. In the first inning Tuesday evening at Katie Seashole Presley Stadium, Shumaker sent a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right center for her sixth home run in a season that is only seven games old.  

Shumaker’s home run got Florida started on a first inning scoring frenzy that included a grand slam by Rylee Holtorf. From that 8-0 beginning, the No. 1 Gators (7-0) cruised to a 10-1 win over Jacksonville. The Gators are at home again tonight when Stetson comes to town (6 p.m., SEC Network+).

In that first inning explosion, Shumaker closed out the scoring with a run-scoring single that drove home Kendra Falby, who had singled and stolen second. Shumaker was 2-2 in the game, raising her batting average to .550. Shumaker has three singles, two doubles, six home runs and 13 RBI. She has also walked five times.

The Gators combined seven hits with seven walks to produce their fifth run-rule win of the season.

Kara Hammock got the win in the circle to improve to 2-0. Hammock went three innings, allowed two hits, one run, walked three and struck out five. Ava Brown pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts to finish off the Dolphins.

Through seven games, the Gators have outscored their opponents 63-9. Eight Gators have hit Florida’s 15 home runs. Five Gators are hitting .400 or better – Shumaker .550, Mia Williams .526, Falby .476, Kenleigh Cahalan .421 and Korbe Otis .400.