The Sports Xchange
Nov 16, 2017
Junior guard KeVaughn Allen scored a game-high 18 points as No. 8 Florida jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back en route to a 108-68 victory over North Florida on Thursday in Gainesville, Fla.
Allen was one of six Gators to reach double figures. He made 6 of 10 from the field and also added five rebounds.
Florida (2-0) has been an offensive machine during the season's first two games. The Gators have scored more than 100 points in each contest, averaging 112.
The Gators played a solid game on defense, limiting North Florida (0-4) to just 7 of 29 on 3-pointers.
Florida also held a 48-29 edge over the Ospreys in rebounds, another reason the Gators found so many offensive chances.
Guard Egor Koulechov, a graduate transfer from Rice, had a second straight big game for the Gators. He scored 34 points in the season opener Monday and came through with 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists, showing his versatility once more.
Sophomore forward Keith Stone added 14 points, and three Gators pitched in with 12 apiece. Junior guard Jalen Hudson, freshman guard Deaundrae Ballard and sophomore center Gorjok Gak all scored a dozen.
Also, senior point guard Chris Chiozza helped in a number of ways. He ended up with nine points plus seven rebounds, six assists and three steals, efficiently running the Florida offense.
The Gators took charge early after the teams were tied at five a few minutes in. Florida went on a 12-0 run, thanks to three 3-pointers. Koulechov made a four-point play during this run.
That helped the Gators roll to a 45-23 halftime lead, and Florida then blew the game open with a 63-point second half.
Freshman forward Trip Day topped North Florida with 13 points.
NOTES: Florida set a program record for most points in a season opener during the 116-74 rout of Gardner-Webb on Monday night. ... The Gators have won all seven of their games with North Florida. ... The Ospreys face a tough early-season schedule, playing their first six games on the road.