Long Beach St. @ Florida preview

Florida will look for a much better start in Saturday’s home contest against Long Beach State than the last time the Gators took the court, when they missed their first 14 shots and scored two points in the opening eight-plus minutes of a 65-62 loss to Utah State at the Orange Bowl Classic. The Gators overcame the sloppy beginning to lead by as many as six points in the second half before faltering again late, shooting just 32.3 percent from the field overall.

It marked the third time this season Florida shot 40 percent or worse from the field, falling to 0-3 in those contests as its starting five combined to finish 17-for-54. “We have to be more disciplined as a team,” Gators freshman guard Scottie Lewis told reporters after the game. “When you’re not disciplined against a team that’s very disciplined, you’re going to pay for it.” Virginia Tech transfer forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. finished with a season-best 22 points against Utah State, but 15 of those points came from the free-throw line as Florida's leading scorer (13.5) and rebounder (8.5) hit only 3-of-14 field-goal attempts. The Beach hope for better results after losing six of their final seven games before Christmas, the latest a 79-57 defeat Monday at Seattle in which Long Beach State shot 29.2 percent from the field in the first half en route to a 20-point intermission deficit.

TV: Noon ET, SEC Network

ABOUT LONG BEACH STATE (4-10): Sophomore guard Chance Hunter leads three Beach players averaging double figures in scoring at 13.2 points per game, while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Michael Carter III averages 12.1 points, but only scored two in nine minutes against Seattle. Freshman center Joshua Morgan scored a team-high 11 on Monday, and averages 8.7 points along with a team-best 5.6 rebounds.

ABOUT FLORIDA (7-4): Blackshear pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds last Saturday to register his sixth double-double of the season, and has three 20-plus point performances in his first 11 games with the Gators. Sophomore forward Keyontae Johnson averaged 16.3 points and eight rebounds in three games to win the Charleston Classic MVP, and on the season ranks second on the team in both categories at 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. The Gators led the SEC entering the weekend in fewest turnovers per game (12.2).

TIP-INS

1. The Gators are 7-1 when shooting greater than 40 percent from the field.

2. Florida sophomore G Noah Locke is 8-for-19 from 3-point range in his past three games.

3. Lewis finished 5-for-9 from the field against Utah State after shooting 7-for-22 across his previous four games.

PREDICTION: Florida 77, Long Beach State 62