UF BASKETBALL: Gators host FAMU

Think of this as Tallahassee Week for the Florida Gators, who face Florida A&M (0-2) tonight (7 p.m., SEC Network+/ESPN+) then arch-rival Florida State (2-0) Friday night, both games at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

It’s also Tallahassee Week for the Florida women (3-0), who knocked off FAMU Monday, 92-54, Monday night at the O-Dome and face 12th-ranked Florida State (2-0) Friday afternoon, also at the O-Dome.

The Gators are trying to get back on the winning track tonight after dropping a 73-70 decision to Virginia this past Friday night in Charlotte. Although all five Florida starters scored in double figures led by Will Richard’s 16 and 14-point nights by both Micah Handlongten and Riley Kugel, Virginia outscored the Gators off the bench 26-4.

Prior to fouling out against UVa, Handlogten had an outstanding game with 14 rebounds to go with 14 points, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal. Tyreese Samuel also posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Will Richard, who scored only three points in Florida’s season opening win over Loyola, went 4-7 from the 3-point line against UVa. Handlogten, Samuel, Riley Kugel and Walter Clayton Jr. will join Richard in the starting lineup against the visiting Rattlers.

This will be the last of the 3-game suspension served by Cal-Riverside transfer Zyon Pullin. Pullin participated in pre-NBA Draft workouts that the NCAA deemed illegal, so he was suspended three games.

Starting lineups:

Florida A&M (0-2): Keith Lamar (6-5, 210, SR); Shannon Grant (6-10, 300, SR); Jordan Chatman (6-4, 210, SR); Hantz Louis-Jeune (6-4, 175, SR); K’Jei Parker (6-1, 190, FR)

FLORIDA (1-1): Tyreese Samuel (6-10, 239, GR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 235, SO); Will Richard 6-4, 206, JR); Riley Kugel (6-5, 207, SO); Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, 195, JR)

Associated Press top 25: 1. Kansas 2-0; 2. Purdue 2-0; 3. Arizona 2-0; 4. Marquette 2-0; 5. UConn 2-0; 6. Houston 2-0; 7. Tennessee 2-0; 8. Creighton 2-0; 9. Duke 1-1; 10. Florida Atlantic 1-0; 11. Gonzaga 1-0; 12. Miami 2-0; 13. Texas A&M 2-0; 14. Arkansas 2-0; 15. Baylor 3-0; 16. Southern California 2-0; 17. Kentucky 2-0; 18. Michigan State 1-1; 19. Texas 2-0; 20. North Carolina 2-0; 21. Villanova 2-0; 22. Alabama 2-0; 23. Illinois 3-0; 24. James Madison 3-0; 25. Colorado 2-0

Coaches top 25: 1. Kansas 2-0; 2. Purdue 2-0; 3. Arizona 2-0; 4. UConn 2-0; 5. Marquette 2-0; 6. Houston 2-0; 7. Creighton 2-0; 8. Tennessee 2-0; 9. Duke 1-1; 10. Florida Atlantic 1-0; 11. Miami 2-0; 12. Gonzaga 1-0; 13. Baylor 3-0; 14. Arkansas 2-0; 15. Texas A&M 2-0; 16. Kentucky 2-0; 17. Texas 2-0; 18. North Carolina 2-0; 19. Michigan State 1-1; 20. Southern California 2-0; 21. Villanova 2-0; 22. Alabama 2-0; 23. Illinois 3-0; 24. Saint Mary’s 2-1; 25. (Tie) Virginia 2-0 and UCLA 2-0

SEC basketball

Monday’s scores: No. 14 Arkansas (3-0) 86, Old Dominion (1-2) 77; South Carolina (3-0) 74; VMI (1-2) 64; Missouri (2-1) 68, SIU-Edwardsville (1-2) 50

Tuesday’s games: Florida A&M (0-2) at FLORIDA (1-1), SEC Network+/ESPN+; Wofford (2-0) at No. 7 Tennessee (2-0), SEC Network+/ESPN+; No. 13 Texas A&M (2-0) at SMU (3-0), ESPN+; UNC-Greensboro (1-0) at Vanderbilt (1-1), ESPN+/SEC Network+; Detroit Mercy (0-2) at Ole Miss (2-0), SEC Network+/ESPN+; No. 1 Kansas (2-0) vs. No. 17 Kentucky (2-0), at Chicago

UF women’s basketball: Gators 92, FAMU 54

The Gators ran their record to 3-0 with a 92-54 thrashing of Florida A&M (0-3) at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Aliyah Matharu led four Gators in double figures with a 22-point effort to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Freshman Laila Reynolds had the first 20-point game of her brief Florida career, adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals for good measure. Also scoring in double figures for the Gators were Ra Shaya Kyle (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Leilani Correa (14 points).

The Gators shot 48.6 percent (35-72) overall from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line (11-25). Correa hit 4-6 on her 3-pointers while Matharu was 3-8. The Gators dominated the paint, outscoring the Rattlers 46-24. Florida scored 20 points off FAMU turnovers.

SEC women’s basketball

Monday’s scores: FLORIDA (3-0) 92, Florida A&M (0-3) 54; No. 15 Tennessee (2-1) 84, Memphis (1-2) 74; Georgia (2-1) 85, Georgia Southern (2-1) 59

Tuesday’s games: Kent State 1-0) at No. 7 LSU (2-1); Austin Peay (0-2) at Kentucky (2-0); North Alabama (1-1) at Missouri (2-1); Little Rock (0-2) at Arkansas (2-0)

Associated Press women’s top 25: 1. South Carolina 2-0; 2. Iowa 3-0; 3. UCLA 3-0; 4. Utah 2-0; 5. Colorado 3-0; 6. Stanford 2-0; 7. LSU 2-1; 8. UConn 1-1; 9. Virginia Tech 1-1; 10. Southern California 2-0; 11. Texas 2-0; 12. Florida State (2-0); 13. Ohio State 1-1; 14. North Carolina State 2-0; 15. Tennessee 1-1; 16. Notre Dame 1-1; 17. North Carolina 2-0; 18. Indiana 1-1; 19. Louisville 2-0; 20. Maryland 1-1; 21. Baylor 1-0; 22. Creighton 2-0; 23. Ole Miss 1-1; 24. Washington 3-0; 25. Oklahoma 3-0