GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Looking to avoid their first 0-3 SEC start since 1981, Florida put up a fight against 12th-ranked, red-hot LSU.
Too many easy baskets by the Tigers and too many missed free throws proved the Gators’ undoing during a crushing 64-58 defeat Wednesday night at the O’Connell Center.
A nip-and-tuck game down the stretch hinged on Florida missing 7 of its final 9 free throws to end 11 of 22 from the foul line.
“We had our chances,” senior forward Anthony Duruji said. “We have to be confident knocking down free throws and open shots. It’s all mental. We just got to get better and be confident in ourselves.
“But it’s a long season.”
Meanwhile, LSU (15-1, 3-1 SEC) ended the night with 42 points in the paint.
Senior forward Darius Days, who grew up just outside of Gainesville in tiny Raleigh (pop. 347), led the way with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
“I have to do a better job protecting the rim,” Florida center Colin Castleton said. “We just have to play better defense. We can’t let that slips and we let that slip.”
Castleton, though, shouldered the load much of the night for the Gators, finishing with team-highs of 19 points and 9 rebounds. Like last Saturday’s loss at Auburn, Castleton’s best efforts were not enough as another close game slipped away.
“Disappointing,” the senior from DeLand said. “We just have to find a way ... 0-3 in SEC play is not good.”
LSU offered the Gators a chance for their first quality win since a Nov. 24 upset of Ohio State. Despite point guard Xavier Pinson sitting out with a knee sprain, the Tigers controlled the game much of the night and jumped to a 12-4 lead.
But the Gators did not wilt and twice fought back from double-digit deficits.
Trailing 46-33, Florida went on a 13-2 to cut the lead to 48-46 on a 3-pointer by Phlandrous Fleming with 12:08 remaining. Neither team was able to pull away.
A layup by Castleton cut LSU’s lead to 54-53 with 6:04 to go. The Gators trailed by as little two points three times from there, including 60-58 with 1:37 remaining.
A missed 3-pointer by Florida guard Brandon McKissic with 40 seconds to go effectively ended the Gators’ chances.
