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Tag: Florida Sports

  • Florida’s Martin gets second chance at a championship

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    SAN ANTONIO, Texas  — Alijah Martin never really liked talking too much about his first Final Four experience because of the heartbreaking way it ended with Florida Atlantic two years ago.

    Now in what will be the graduate transfer guard’s only season with Florida, he will get to play in the national championship game. He has already had an emphatic and electrifying impact for the Gators in this Final Four.

    “This one means a lot. Because something I hadn’t done before was win a semifinal game in an NCAA Tournament,” Martin said Sunday. “And it was kind of a get-back for the FAU team and how we lost.”

    In Florida’s 79-73 national semifinal victory over Southeastern Conference rival and No. 1 overall seed Auburn, the game was tied midway through the second half Saturday night when Martin beat All-American post Johni Broome to a loose ball for a momentum-turning steal and breakaway one-handed slam.

    Martin later added another breakaway rim-rattling dunk, with two Tigers in the air around him. He finished with 17 points.

    “The best thing he does for us is just those momentum plays,” Australian post Alex Condon said.

    “I was in front of him a little bit, I thought he was going to pass the ball,” Gators guard Will Richard said of the second dunk. “Once I saw him loading up, I was like, let me try to clear a little path for him. … We’ve been waiting on him to get a dunk like that all year, so it’s good to see him get it in the Final Four.”

    The Gators (35-4), in their first NCAA title game since back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, take on Big 12 champion Houston (35-4) on Monday night.

    Martin played the past four seasons at FAU, and was part of the Owls’ unlikely run to the Final Four in 2023. They had a 14-point lead against fellow mid-major San Diego State before Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beating jumper gave the Aztecs a 72-71 semifinal victory. Martin had 26 points and seven rebounds in that game.

    When deciding to go into the transfer portal last year, after coach Dusty May left FAU for Michigan, Martin said he “wanted to go somewhere where I felt wanted and needed.”

    The 6-foot-2 guard from Mississippi got to stay in Florida. While the Gators had the most returning players among his potential options, Martin had an immediate impact for a team that was coming off a first-round NCAA tourney loss.

    “The mentality and the edge that he brought to this team from his first week on campus, I feel like that has risen our level of competitiveness and just the will to win on our team,” Richard said.

    Condon, a sophomore, remembers what Martin was telling the team during conditioning work last summer.

    “He was talking about, you know, you guys don’t know like what it takes to really get to the Final Four and win games in March,” Condon said. “We all kind of took a step back from that. … By the end of it, we had a lot of trust that he really knew what he’s talking about and wasn’t going at anyone really. He was just saying, like, you guys need to trust me and just know what it’s going to take for us to get there.”

    The national championship will be Martin’s 38th game for the Gators, and the 162nd in his college career. His 14.6 points per game trail only All-America guard Walter Clayton Jr. on the team this season. He averages 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

    “Everybody on this team plays a significant role,” Martin said. “So I knew what I was bringing. I knew that I was going to be able to hold guys to a higher standard. and just raise the bar on those expectations.”

    That bar gets no higher than a national title.

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    Associated Press

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  • South Carolina to face UConn in NCAA women’s basketball championship

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    TAMPA, Fla. — “Four it all.” That’s the motto of this year’s Women’s Final Four. Two teams have emerged with a shot at the national championship.

    And both these teams know what it takes to win it all. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Defending champs South Carolina defeated Texas with a dominating 74-57 win, while UConn extended its win streak to 15 by taking out UCLA, 85-51

    • The UConn Huskies are a win away from a 12th national title

    • The South Carolina Gamecocks are going for the repeat and they would be the first team to do it since UConn won four straight from 2013-16


    Two teams punched their ticket to Sunday’s national championship game. Defending champs South Carolina took care of business against Texas with a dominating 74-57 win, while UConn extended its win streak to 15 by taking out UCLA, 85-51.

    In the first semifinal of the night, South Carolina fell behind early to Texas, who advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. But just as they have throughout the tournament, the Gamecocks proved no deficit is too big. Their outside shots started falling just before the end of the first half and they took the lead, extending their streak to 104 straight wins when leading at the half.

    “Proud of our team. Proud of our depth. Proud players that chose to come here, and they really get the experience being at a Final Four and now the national championship,” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

    In the second semi of the night, UConn built an early lead on UCLA and never looked back. The Bruins made their Final Four debut and came to Tampa as the overall No. 1 seed. But the Huskies flexed its dynasty muscle. In three straight games, the Huskies have outscored opponents by an average of 23 points. Now, they are a win away from a 12th national title.

    “We prayed, we prepared, and we hoped to be playing on the last day of the season,” said UConn guard Paige Bueckers. “We got that opportunity, so we don’t want to take it for granted.”

    South Carolina’s going for the repeat and they would be the first team to do it since UConn won four straight from 2013-16.

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Top-seeded Florida runs away from Maryland, 87-71

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    SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Florida’s three standout seniors and its deep bench kept bringing energy until it became too tough for Maryland’s “Crab Five” to keep up.

    Coach Todd Golden could see his Gators wearing the Terrapins down.

    Will Richard scored 15 points, Alijah Martin added 14 points and seven rebounds, and No. 1 seed Florida played a steady second half to run away from fourth-seeded Maryland and into the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final with an 87-71 win Thursday night.

    Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 13 points and four assists as Florida’s senior leaders and their deep supporting cast took down Maryland’s hardworking starters — one of Terrapins coach Kevin Willard’s concerns coming into this matchup.

    “We come in with great energy,” said Florida reserve Denzel Aberdeen, who scored 12 points in 19 minutes. “Just everybody being ready, whoever’s name is called, I think that’s what we did.”

    Freshman sensation Derik Queen scored 27 points to lead Maryland (27-9) in what might have been Willard’s final game guiding the program.

    “I think their bench really wore us down,” Willard said.

    Florida (33-4) advances to play Saturday against the winner of Thursday’s late game at Chase Center between third-seeded Texas Tech and No. 10 seed Arkansas.

    The Gators, in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 and seeking the program’s first Final Four berth since 2014, committed 13 of their 17 turnovers in the first half but took better care of the ball over the final 20 minutes. Florida already eliminated two-time defending NCAA champion UConn in the second round and is 10-1 in regional semifinals.

    “The message was simple: We have to take care of the ball,” Golden, the Gators’ third-year coach, said.

    The “Crab Five” — featuring WNBA star Angel Reese’s brother Julian, who had his sister in the stands to cheer — roared back in the first half when it seemed Florida might pull away. Queen, who hit a buzzer-beater in a 72-71 victory Sunday over Colorado State in the second round, shot 8 for 17 and made all 10 of his free throws.

    Clayton, Martin and Richard combined for 42 points and three others scored in double figures for Florida. The senior trio had scored 56 of the Gators’ 77 points in the two-point victory against UConn last Sunday. That sent coach Golden back to the Bay Area, where he played for Saint Mary’s and coached at the University of San Francisco before taking the Florida job.

    Now, they get to extend their stay into the weekend.

    “It’s surreal, to be honest. The thing that I keep kind of going back to, selfishly, personally, I just don’t want it to end,” Golden said. “We have a uniquely tight group. … It’s been an amazing run.”

    What’s next for Willard?

    Willard’s future was unclear as he has been linked to the Villanova job and also publicly expressed concerns last week with the direction of the Terrapins program, calling for “fundamental changes.”

    Fans booed the coach as the team departed its hotel earlier in the day.

    Golden had described the Terrapins as “freaky talented” coming into the game.

    Clayton from deep

    Willard had compared Clayton to Stephen Curry when it comes to shooting off the dribble.

    Clayton had been 22 for 43 from 3-point range — 51.2% — over his five postseason tournament games coming in. He wound up 2 of 6 from deep.

    Takeaways

    Maryland: The Terrapins were outrebounded 5-1 early before Reese’s offensive rebound, putback and three-point play at the 15:21 mark of the first half — and Maryland forced 10 turnovers over the opening 13:30 to get back in the game.

    Florida: The Southeastern Conference Tournament champion Gators used their depth to generate a 29-3 advantage in bench points, with Maryland getting its first bench point with 1:15 to play. … Sophomore forward-center Alex Condon limped off to the locker room with an injury to his troublesome right ankle at the 12:16 mark of the first half and underwent a precautionary X-ray, then returned with 13:29 left.

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    Associated Press

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  • Golden returns to San Francisco area with No. 1-seeded Gators

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    SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Todd Golden knows he might need to leave NCAA Tournament tickets for a couple of VIPs, his special longtime mentors and former coaches at nearby Saint Mary’s College.

    That’s just how it can work sometimes come March when you’re the youngster and part of a coaching tree with extra-long limbs.

    While Randy Bennett and Kyle Smith were both busy monitoring the transfer portal Wednesday for potential additions to their respective teams — Smith just completed his first season as Stanford’s head coach — Golden got to work preparing top-seeded Florida for a Sweet 16 matchup against Maryland on Thursday night.

    It certainly felt like reunion day at Chase Center. As the Gators took the practice floor, Golden said a quick hello to Smith, who sat along one baseline catching up with Golden’s father, Scott — and former NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo stopped to chat them up, too.

    “This is why he is the way he is,” proud dad Scott said, referring to all of those who influenced his son’s cross-country journey from San Francisco to Gainesville. “It’s been beyond surreal, the year they’ve had. This year’s been beyond belief. Hopefully it keeps on going.”

    Golden has provided his players with some glimpses into what his life looked like here. He served as an assistant to Smith at the University of San Francisco before replacing him as head coach in 2019 when Smith took over at Washington State — the step that ultimately led Smith back to the Bay Area and the Stanford job last spring.

    The Gators visited iconic Crissy Field along San Francisco’s waterfront Wednesday morning to see the Golden Gate Bridge in all its splendor.

    After practicing in Golden’s old gym at USF in what he called “a full-circle moment,” they managed to get their large group into Golden’s favorite Original Joe’s in the North Beach neighborhood for dinner Tuesday night. The coach had prime rib because “being here in San Francisco you can’t go wrong.”

    Initially, the restaurant told Golden it couldn’t accommodate his group of about 35 people.

    “It’s been amazing. When the bracket came out and we saw we were the 1 seed in the West and obviously you see that the regionals in San Francisco, you can’t help but think about how awesome it would be to be able to experience that,” Golden said. “But there’s two games before that that you have to find a way to advance.

    “And once we were able to get past UConn on Sunday, it kind of all hit me and (wife) Megan and our family that we’d have a chance to come back to the Bay Area. Just landing in San Francisco yesterday and just kind of driving back through the city, I had to pinch myself a little bit.”

    The Gators (32-4) hope to make it an extended stay by getting through No. 4 seed Maryland (27-8) on Thursday. Florida, which ended UConn’s bid for a third straight NCAA championship in the second round, is seeking its first Final Four berth since 2014.

    Golden even has one of Smith’s former Washington State players starting, Rueben Chinyelu.

    However long this NCAA run lasts, Golden will have huge fans in Bennett and Smith. Seeing the 39-year-old Golden on the big stage brings a smile to Smith’s face. He finds it remarkable that Golden “doesn’t age.”

    Golden recalled Smith constantly challenging him to be tough as a mid-major player in the East Bay suburb of Moraga. They’ve both come so far.

    “It’s awesome,” said Smith, who had dinner with the team Tuesday and never saw a bill. “I think part of why they’re successful and why they’ve been able to get good quickly is because Saint Mary’s is one of the tougher programs in the country and Todd did five years. He had to bring it every day and prove himself.”

     

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    Associated Press

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  • Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. plays with patience, shoots with confidence

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s practice court is nearly empty. Sweat-soaked jerseys and towels are piled near the doorway. The coaching staff and most of the players are scurrying around the facility as their bus awaits.

    They need to shower, pack and eat before hitting the road for airport and the NCAA Tournament.

    Walter Clayton Jr. is still in the gym. He has two team managers waiting for the last basketball, which will join the others that are already stuffed into an equipment bag and slung over a shoulder.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida will take on Maryland in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night

    • Walter Clayton Jr. hit key 3-pointers late against UConn on Sunday to help ensure the Gators would advance

    • The point guard scored 23 points in the final 8 minutes of that game

    • Coach Todd Golden and his teammates say Clayton Jr. puts in a lot of extra work so he can come through for Florida consistently

    Clayton is in no hurry. It’s reminiscent of the way he plays.

    The All-American guard never panics, rarely presses and usually performs with a subtle smoothness that’s hard to find at the collegiate level. He’s chill personified.

    And he’s no doubt the main reason the top-seeded Gators (32-4) advanced to the Sweet 16, where they will face No. 4 seed Maryland (27-8) in the West Regional on Thursday.

    Clayton scored 13 of his 23 points in the final eight minutes Sunday, helping Florida rally to beat two-time defending NCAA champion UConn in Raleigh, N.C. He hit two 3-pointers with defenders in his face that epitomized the best of his skill set: he patiently took advantage of a mismatch against Alex Karaban for the first one, giving the Gators their first lead of the second half, and drained the second one while waiting for a double team to disappear.

    “I’ve hit some big shots in my life,” Clayton said. “Those were probably two of the biggest.”

    Added coach Todd Golden: “He’s a beast. People don’t understand. They’re kind of like, ’Oh, he’s never emotional, looks like he’s not trying.’ I’m like, ‘Dude, it’s because the game comes easy to him.’ I just love it.”

    ‘This guy is legit’

    Clayton also scored 23 in the team’s tournament opener against Norfolk State.

    The 6-foot-2 senior from Lake Wales has now topped 20 points in six of Florida’s past seven games, raising his scoring average to nearly 18 points a game. He’s been better than anyone expected, especially after making the move from shooting guard to the point in his final college season.

    “Everybody was on my (butt) all summer about the point-guard play,” Golden said. “I’m like, ‘This guy is legit.’ Even though he was great for us last year, people didn’t understand how elite of an offensive player he was.”

    It’s a development few saw coming years ago.

    The Sunshine State’s top basketball programs passed on Clayton coming out of high school; Stetson and Florida A&M were the only in-state schools that wanted him. Clayton instead landed at Iona in New Rochelle, N.Y., far from his Florida family and friends and under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.

    Attorney and Florida booster John Frost, whose firm is based in Bartow — where Clayton finished high school — saw something in Clayton that Florida’s Mike White, Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton and Miami’s Jim Larrañaga seemingly missed. Frost invited Golden to dinner shortly after he got the Florida job in 2022 and mentioned Clayton as a player to watch and potentially recruit.

    Having never heard of Clayton, Golden went home that night and looked him up on an analytics website.

    “He had great numbers as a freshman,” Golden said. “A freaking shot-maker.”

    An Easter surprise

    Golden tracked Clayton as a sophomore, and he ended up being named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s player of the year. When Pitino took the St. John’s job, it became clear that Clayton planned to leave Iona, too.

    It came down to following Pitino or returning to his home state to play for Golden and the Gators.

    “We have him on a visit, and we think we’re getting him,” Golden recalled.

    And then Clayton’s mom called crying on Easter morning.

    “She was worried he was going to stay up there at St. John’s,” Golden added. “She wanted him down here, not more than we did, but equal for sure.”

    Golden called the athletic department to secure Florida’s jet, grabbed assistant coach/recruiter Korey McCray and headed to New York to “figure out how we’re going to get this to the finish line.” They met Clayton at a local restaurant only to learn that he had invited Steve Masiello — Pitino’s right-hand man — to dinner.

    Bad news? Bidding war? Golden and McCray kept looking at each other with no idea what was happening. Clayton left the Florida duo in suspense. Then, after some awkward silence — and just before Masiello arrived — he dropped the news.

    “I’m coming to Florida,” Clayton said. “I just want you guys to be able to ask (Masiello) any questions about me that you might have. I’m coming home.”

    Added Golden: “It was a crazy day. I’d say that Easter was very important to the return of Florida basketball.”

    ‘It’s amazing to watch’

    With everyone having left the practice court, Clayton is getting up extra shots. 3-pointers. Free throws. Even a layup or two. The managers wait, then slip the last ball into the bag and hustle it to the bus.

    Clayton takes his time getting ready; the Gators won’t leave town without him. Everyone knows how important he is to Florida’s offense, whether it’s finding teammates on the break, running half-court sets, hitting shots from mid-court logos or taking over in crunch time.

    “What makes him such a great player is his ability to score it from anywhere on the court,” teammate Will Richard said.

    He showed that knack all season, including when the Gators needed it most against UConn.

    “Super clutch, man,” teammate Alijah Martin said. “That’s Walter Clayton Jr. for you right there. He put us on his back — just so proud of him. I see the work he puts in every day. It’s amazing to watch.”

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    Associated Press

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  • USF names Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson as new head basketball coach

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida has found its new men’s head basketball coach.

    USF has hired former Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson to guide the Bulls program.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF names former Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson as its new men’s basketball coach

    • Hodgson, 37, is USF’s 12th head coach in program history and comes to the Bulls after two seasons at the helm at Arkansas State

    • He inherited a team that lost 20 games and led Arkansas State’s turnaround in 2023-24, which included its first postseason appearance since 1999. 

    • PREVIOUS STORY: USF makes sure love wins for Coach Abdur-Rahim

    Hodgson, 37, takes over after a 13-19 season under interim coach Ben Fletcher. Fletcher guided the program after the death of Amir Abdur-Rahim, who led the Bulls to a program-first American Athletic Conference regular-season championship in 2023-24.

    USF’s 12th head coach in program history, Hodgson comes to the university after two seasons at the helm of Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference.

    “I am incredibly honored and excited to be the head coach at the University of South Florida,” Hodgson said in a released statement. “From my first conversations with [Vice President for Athletics] Michael Kelly and the USF leadership, it was clear that this place is strongly committed to building a winning culture.”

    Hodgson led Arkansas State to two of the most successful seasons in program history, with back-to-back 20-win seasons.

    He inherited a team that lost 20 games and led Arkansas State’s turnaround in 2023-24, which included its first postseason appearance since 1999. 

    In 2024-25, the Red Wolves finished with a 25-11 record, the best in Arkansas State program history. The season featured a top-20 victory, saw the Red Wolves secure the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title, and marked the team’s first NIT appearance in more than 30 years. 

    “We are thrilled to welcome Bryan Hodgson as the next head coach of USF men’s basketball,” Kelly said. “Bryan has been a part of winning programs at every level, demonstrating a remarkable ability to recruit top talent, develop players and build championship-caliber teams.

    “His passion, energy, and vision for USF basketball align perfectly with our commitment to excellence. We believe he is the right leader to take this program to new heights, and we can’t wait to see his impact on our student-athletes and the Tampa Bay community.”

    A western New York native, Hodgson and his fiancée, Jordan, have a son, Jett, who was born in 2024.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • USF Bulls prepared for a tournament run earlier in the season

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    TAMPA, Fla. — USF’s path to the NCAA Tournament has been paved brick by brick.

    And the journey can be traced all the way back to the first two months of the season.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The USF women’s basketball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a win over Rice in the AAC Championship game.

    •  The Bulls will face Tennessee in the first round of the tournament. 

    •  Coach Jose Fernandez credits a bulked up scheduled in November and December for getting them to the dance.


    In that span, the Bulls played four ranked opponents, including UConn, South Carolina and Duke. It helped set them up for the road they are on now.

    “I knew all along this was a tournament team, and that’s why we scheduled the way we scheduled in November and December,” Head Coach Jose Fernandez said.

    The strength of schedule has made this team strong at a critical time as they prepare for their first-round opponent, Tennessee. The Bulls drew the No. 12 seed in Region 3 and they open the tournament having won 12 of their last 14 games. It’s the kind momentum that can fuel a long run.

    “I feel like everyone brings so many different things,” USF point guard Mama Dembele said. “And the moment we are all in the same page, I feel like we’re kind of unstoppable.

    The Bulls took three straight days to win three straight games to claim the AAC Championship and secure the automatic berth into the tournament. It’s the 10th time in the program’s history they have punched their ticket to the dance. One thing they’ve never done, advance to the second weekend. USF is seeking its one shining moment.

    “Everyone is going to have their own moment,” Dembele said. “So it’s time to shine, to step up, and to just have so much fun. I think when we have fun is when we’re at our best.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Valspar Championship taps into special moments

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    PALM HARBOR, Fla. — The Valspar Championship has provided a lot of great moments. Last year’s winner, Peter Malnati, had one of the greatest.

    What You Need To Know

    • The top golfers in the world will be taking on the Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course Thursday through Sunday

    • Defending champion Peter Malnati will try to recapture the magic from last year when he provided one of the tournament’s most emotional moments

    • This year’s field features 20 of the top 50 golfers in the world


    When Malnati’s four-year-old son Hatcher ran into his arms, with his super hero cape flapping in the wind, it cemented its spot in Valspar lore.

    “His dad wins. He goes flying out on the green. Peter lifts him in his arms,” Valspar Tournament Director Tracy West said. “There’s a breeze, the cape goes. Hatcher looks like Superman. I mean, that was so neat because it really wrapped in everything that Valspar’s about.”

    So what will be this year’s moment? Golf is a sport that’s remembered for its great shots. But it’s also a sport made up of great emotions. And it’s those emotions that can send a tournament over the top.

    Remember when Tiger Woods won his first green jacket and hugged his dad after his Master’s win in 1997? Or how about when 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus won his 18th major at the 1986 Masters? Amazing moments filled to the brim with emotion. The Valspar Championship might not be on the major tournament level. But it packs just a big a punch when it comes to emotions.

    “The reality is, we’re the kind of tournament that can be forgotten nationwide,” Valspar Co-General Chairman Ronde Barber said. “Cause we’re not big, we’re not signature, we’re not $25 million.”

    But the Valspar experience is priceless. This year’s field is stacked. The Valspar features 20 of the top 50 ranked golfers in the world. Someone is going to win the Golden Brush trophy. Someone is going to tame the Copperhead Course’s Snake Pit. There will be a lot of great golf. And there will be a lot of emotions.

    “We know what impact we’re allowed to have because of professional golf,” Barber said. “And it will only be more important this year. It really will be one of our more special years.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Central Floridians Clayton Jr., Broome make AP All-America 1st team

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    FLORIDA — Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. and Auburn Tigers forward/center Johni Broome on Tuesday became the first players from their universities to be named first-team selections to The Associated Press men’s college basketball All-America teams.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. and Auburn’s Johni Broome became the first AP All-America first-team picks for their programs

    • Clayton Jr. led Bartow to two Class 6A state championships, and Broome took Tampa Catholic to two 4A semifinals

    • Fellow first-team selection Cooper Flagg of Duke played multiple seasons at Montverde Academy and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

    • The other two members of the first team are Alabama’s Mark Sears and Purdue’s Braden Smith

    Clayton, who took Bartow to two Class 6A state championships in high school, and Broome, who played two seasons at Plant City High School before transferring to Tampa Catholic and leading that team to the Class 4A semifinals twice, led their college basketball teams this season to No. 1 seedings in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Broome’s Tigers hold the No. 1 overall seeding for the tournament and sit atop the South Region, while the Gators are seeded No. 4 overall and are No. 1 in the West Region.

    The other first-team members are Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who is from Maine but played multiple seasons at Montverde Academy in Lake County; Alabama guard Mark Sears, who was a second-team pick last year, and Purdue guard Braden Smith.

    Clayton averaged 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and recorded 11 games with at least 20 points on a Gators team that captured the Southeastern Conference Tournament title. He helped Florida climb as high as No. 2 in the AP rankings during the season and seeks to help the Gators win a championship.

    “Whatever path, I like my guys,” said Clayton, who started college at Iona. “Me and my guys against whoever.”

    Broome averaged 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and over 2 blocks per game this season.

    Only Broome, a third-team pick a year ago, and Flagg were among the first five on the ballots of all 61 national media members who vote for the weekly AP Top 25. 

    “I’ve proved a lot individually through my career but my main goal is a team goal, which is to win the national championship,” said Broome, who played two seasons at Morehead State before spending the past three with the Tigers. “When the team shines, everyone shines individually. Coming from where I came from, it means a lot to me.”

    Flagg, who is widely expected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft if he decides to turn pro after the season, averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

    The second and third All-America teams stacked up as follows:

    Second Team

    JT Toppin, Texas Tech out of Dallas, Texas

    Kam Jones, Marquette, out of Cordova, Tenn.

    John Tonje, Wisconsin, from Omaha, Neb.

    PJ Haggerty, Memphis, of Crosby, Texas

    RJ Luis Jr., St. John’s, from Miami

    Third Team

    Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, of St. Louis, Mo.

    Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee, out of Long Island, N.Y.

    Eric Dixon, Villanova, from Willow Grove, Pa.

    LJ Cryer, Houston, of Katy, Texas

    Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, out of Alexandria, Va.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • UCF gets ousted from Big 12 Tournament with loss to Kansas in OT

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    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hunter Dickinson had 23 points and 13 rebounds, Zeke Mayo poured in 24 points, and sixth-seeded Kansas rallied to force overtime before holding off No. 14-seeded UCF 98-94 late Wednesday night in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kansas knocked UCF out of the Big 12 Tournament with a 98-94 victory in OT on Wednesday

    • Jordan Ivy-Curry forced overtime in the second half, but the Knights couldn’t score enough in the extra time

    • Keyshawn Hall led UCF in scoring with 25 points, and Hunter Dickinson had 23 points and 13 rebounds for Kansas

    • The Jayhawks play third-seeded Arizona in the third round.

    AJ Storr scored a season-high 19 points before fouling out in the closing seconds of OT, and KJ Adams had 15 points and seven boards for the Jayhawks (21-11), who narrowly avoided dropping their conference tournament opener for a second year in a row.

    Instead, they will face third-seeded Arizona on Thursday night in a rematch of a game Kansas won last weekend.

    Jordan Ivy-Curry pulled UCF to within 94-93 when he converted a three-point play with 18.2 seconds to go, and Mayo missed the second of two foul shots at the other end. But UCF big man Moustapha Thiam came up short on a jumper with a chance to tie the score, Kansas got the rebound and Dickinson made the second of two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining.

    The Knights’ Deebo Coleman was quickly fouled. He made the first foul shot with 0.9 second left to make it 96-94, but when he tried to intentionally miss the second to give his team a chance, Coleman failed to hit the rim and the Jayhawks got possession.

    David Coit was fouled and added two more free throws for the final margin.

    Keyshawn Hall led UCF (17-16) with 25 points. Darius Johnson had 22 before fouling out with a minute to go in regulation.

    The Jayhawks blew a 13-point second-half lead, then had to rally once UCF pulled ahead with 7 minutes to go. The teams traded buckets down the stretch, and Ivy-Curry’s 3-pointer tied the score at 83 with 14.1 seconds left in regulation.

    Kansas tried to set up a winning play, but Adams stepped on the baseline on his drive, giving the Knights a shot. Ivy-Curry raced up the floor and got a decent look from the wing, but his 3-pointer came up well short as time expired.

    Takeaways

    UCF came a long way from January, when it lost 99-48 to the Jayhawks at home. It had won four of its past six games.

    Kansas has gone with a shortened lineup late in the season, and it seems to be paying off for the Jayhawks.

    Key moment

    Thiam’s miss from about 6 feet along the baseline with a few seconds left in overtime would have tied the score.

    Key stats

    Three players fouled out of the game. Kansas guard Dajuan Harris also finished with five fouls.

    Up next

    The Jayhawks play Arizona on Thursday night. They beat the Wildcats 83-76 last Saturday.

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  • UCF men’s basketball faces rematch with Kansas on Wednesday on Big 12 Tournament

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    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The UCF men’s basketball team will take on sixth-seeded Kansas in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., at 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • UCF will play Kansas at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament

    • The 14th-seeded Knights defeated the No. 11-seeded Utes 87-72 on Tuesday night 

    • Keyshawn Hall led UCF with 23 points, and Darius Johnson added 20 points

    • The Knights are trying to play their way into the NCAA Tournament

    The Knights advanced after Keyshawn Hall scored 23 points to lead four UCF players in double-figures scoring, and the No. 14-seeded Knights used a big run out of halftime to bury 11th-seeded Utah 87-72 in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday night.

    Darius Johnson added 20 points, Jordan Ivy-Curry had 15 and Moustapha Thiam finished with 14 for the Knights (17-15) as they try to play their way into the NCAA Tournament.

    Utah (16-16) opened the game with a 21-9 run, but the Knights slowly chipped away at the deficit, and Hall’s 3-pointer got them within 40-39 at halftime. He had six more points during a 24-3 run to start the second half, giving the Knights a 63-43 lead with just under 13 minutes to go that carried them to the finish.

    Keanu Dawes had 21 points to lead the Utes, who also lost to UCF on Feb. 23, the day before coach Craig Smith was fired.

    Josh Eilert, who led West Virginia at the Big 12 Tournament as an interim coach last year, did the same for the Utes on Tuesday night. The school already has announced the hiring of Alex Jensen, one of the stars of their 1998 Final Four team and an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks, to be their new coach once the season has concluded.

    Takeaways

    UCF won thanks to some brilliant guard play, but its lack of production in the paint could be troublesome, especially with 7-foot-1 center Hunter Dickinson and the rest of the Jayhawks waiting in the next round. The Knights lost both meetings with the Jayhawks in the regular season — 99-48 on Jan. 5 and 91-87 on Jan. 28.

    Utah simply couldn’t overcome its second-half start, which at one point included 10 consecutive missed field-goal attempts.

    Key moment

    Hall’s 3-pointer that sent UCF into halftime with all the momentum.

    Key stats

    Utah was 4 of 26 from beyond the 3-point arc.

    Up next

    The Knights play Kansas on Wednesday night. They lost to the Jayhawks twice in the regular season.

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  • USF’s point guard brings a mother’s instinct to the court

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Everything you need to know about USF’s pint-sized point guard is in her first name.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF point guard Mama Dembele leads the AAC with 2.4 steals per game. She leads her team with 5.4 assists per game

    • Mama was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year

    • This tenacious point guard has the Bulls on track to do great things in the AAC tournament


    Mama Dembele sets a tone for the Bulls with her tenacious, relentless style of play. And just like her namesake, she’s a nurturer. She takes care of her team.

    “It don’t matter how big you are or how small you are, you really have to want it and sacrifice your body for the team,” she said. “I think that’s what really excites me cause then people can see that I really care about the team and I just want to set the tone from the beginning.”

    Mama is 5-foot, 6-inches of pure pride and determination. Born in the West African country of Mali and raised in Spain, she brings a unique perspective and concentrated vision to USF.

    Her American Athletic Conference leading 2.4 steals per game, coupled with her team-leading 5.4 assists per game have put the Bulls in position to make some noise at the conference tournament. Her performance this season earned her AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

    “Not a lot of times they reward little guards playing defense,” Mama said. “It’s more about the blocks and those numbers are more impressive, so of course I was really happy.”

    After transferring from Missouri, where she was the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and SEC All-Defensive Player, Mama’s loosened up on the court. Her new home with the Bulls gave her freedom to really let her game speak for itself.

    “They just let me be myself,” she said. “They were like, we know you like to play defense, you like to gamble a little bit, go for the steals, so just go for it and we have your back.”

    And she’s got the Bulls’ back. And she’s got them on track to make a run at the AAC Tournament, just by being herself and playing her game.

    “Just going out there and giving my all, it might be steals, it might be deflections, I don’t really care,” Mama said. “That is something that I really take a lot of pride in.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Loucks returning to FSU to take over as Seminoles basketball coach

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Luke Loucks is returning to Florida State to take over as the coach of the Seminoles.

    Florida State announced the hire on Sunday. Loucks, 34, is replacing Leonard Hamilton, who is stepping down at the end of this season.

    What You Need To Know

    • Luke Loucks, 34, will be Florida State’s new men’s basketball coach

    • Coach Leonard Hamilton is stepping away at the end of this season

    • Loucks is a Clearwater native and played for Hamilton at FSU from 2008-12

    • He has been an assistant coach for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings since 2022

    A Clearwater native, Loucks played at Florida State from 2008-12. He averaged 7.1 points and 3.3 rebounds as a senior and was part of a Seminoles team that defeated Miami, Duke and North Carolina on consecutive days to win the ACC Tournament title in March 2012.

    Loucks had been an assistant coach for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings since 2022. He also has worked for the Golden State Warriors, helping the team win NBA titles in 2017 and 2018, and the Phoenix Suns.

    Loucks has not been a head coach at the college or NBA level. But his experience working with NBA coaches like Steve Kerr and Mike Brown, along with his knowledge of the challenges of Florida State’s job, made him an attractive candidate.

    “We will have a standard that we stick to on and off the court that will help build a championship-level culture,” Loucks said. “I am privileged to have seen firsthand what winning feels like at Florida State, and I am hungry for more.”

    After playing pro basketball for three seasons in Europe and one in the NBA’s developmental league, Loucks has focused on player development in his three NBA stops. In Sacramento, he was in charge of the Kings’ defense — an area that Hamilton prioritized during his 23 seasons as Florida State’s coach.

    “Luke was an exceptional Seminole player who played a key role in leading Florida State to its first ACC championship,” said Hamilton, 76. “I’m very proud to see him return as head coach of a program he helped elevate to such great heights.”

    Florida State (17-14, 8-12) is the No. 11 seed for the ACC tournament, playing on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C.

    Athletic Director Michael Alford said the search included college coaches and assistant coaches with extensive experience. But administrators opted not to pay a significant buyout to a college coach and chose Loucks in a search that ramped up after Hamilton announced his plans on Feb. 3.

    “Luke will bring a unique combination of qualities to our program, and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our basketball history under his leadership,” Alford said. “Throughout basketball at both the professional and collegiate levels, Luke has earned a reputation as one of the rising stars in coaching.”

     

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  • AP source: ACC, FSU, Clemson reach proposed deal to end legal fight, alter funds

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    The Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson and Florida State have reached a proposed settlement that would end their legal fight and change the league’s revenue-distribution model, a person familiar with the situation said Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • FSU, Clemson and the ACC reach proposed deal to end their legal battle, AP source says

    • If approved, the settlement would boost revenue payouts for teams with the best TV ratings

    • Trustees at FSU and Clemson and the ACC’s Board of Directors have each scheduled meetings for Tuesday

    • Top-earning schools could see an upside of $15 million or more

    The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the schools have publicly addressed the settlement, which requires all three to formally approve. ESPN first reported details of the settlement.

    Trustees at Clemson and Florida State have each scheduled meetings for Tuesday. The FSU meeting specifically lists lawsuits involving the ACC on the agenda, while the Clemson meeting agenda refers to settling “athletic litigations.”

    The ACC’s Board of Directors — made up of university presidents and chancellors — will also hold a call to sign off on the settlement Tuesday during a previously scheduled meeting, the person who spoke to AP said.

    If approved, the settlement would incorporate viewership ratings into revenue distribution among member schools, which would increase payouts to schools generating the most TV interest. The upside could be $15 million or more for top-earning schools, while it could also result in a decline of about $7 million for others, the person told the AP.

    Still, it would offer another sign of stability in the immediate term for the ACC and Commissioner Jim Phillips, who has spent much of his four-year tenure working to find ways to enhance revenue as the league faces an increasing gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences.

    The settlement comes roughly a month after ESPN exercised its option to extend its media base-rights agreement with the league through 2036, aligning that deal with a separate one that covers their partnership for the ACC Network through that same period.

    It also comes in the first year of a Phillips-championed “success initiative” that allows schools to keep more of the money generated by their own postseason success, which could amount to about $25 million in a year — tied mostly to performance in the College Football Playoff.

    League schools signed a grant-of-rights agreement that gives the ACC control of media rights for any school that attempts to exit for the duration of the ESPN deal. Schools had signed that agreement in the lead-up to the ACC Network’s 2019 launch, which meant the league could charge hundreds of millions of dollars for leaving the conference early.

    Still, FSU filed a lawsuit in December 2023 seeking to explore potential membership in other leagues and challenging the league’s ability to impose those penalties. Clemson followed in March 2024. The ACC had countersued both.

    ACC leaders had been discussing ways to rethink revenue distribution to help potentially resolve the legal fights with FSU and Clemson back to last fall.

    The ACC has 18 member schools — 17 in football — after realignment led to the addition of Cal, Stanford and SMU.

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  • Georgia recovers from No. 3 Florida’s comeback for upset win

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    ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia guard Blue Cain sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining after No. 3 Florida took its first lead by scoring 13 unanswered points, and the Bulldogs defeated the Gators 88-83 on Tuesday night.

    Florida, which trailed by 26 points in the first half, rallied from a 78-67 deficit with the 13-0 run to lead 80-78. Cain’s 3-pointer ended the run.

    Georgia (17-11, 5-10 Southeastern Conference) boosted its hopes for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2015. The Bulldogs ended Florida’s 12-game winning streak in the series and gave coach Mike White his first win against his former Florida team. White had been 0-6 against the Gators.

    Will Richard scored a career-high 30 points, but Florida (24-4, 11-4) fell short of pulling off its second comeback in four days. The Gators rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit to beat LSU 79-65 Saturday night.

    Silas Demary Jr. led Georgia with 21 points. Asa Newell had 15.

    Georgia fans obliged repeated requests from the public address announcer to give Florida’s team and officials 90 seconds to leave before charging the court. Fans then flooded the court.

    Takeaways

    Florida: Sophomore forward Alex Condon, who missed four games with a low ankle sprain, scored nine points.

    Georgia: The Bulldogs’ last win over Florida was a 61-55 victory on March 2, 2019. Tyrin Lawrence had 14 points after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

    Key moment

    Thomas Haugh’s layup with 1:28 remaining gave the Gators their first lead at 79-78.

    Key stat

    The Gators’ 15 steals led to a 29-12 advantage in points off turnovers.

    Up next

    Both teams return to action on Saturday night, when Florida plays host to No. 12 Texas A&M and Georgia visits Texas.

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  • No. 2 Florida steamrolls Oklahoma 85-63

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 18 points, Will Richard added 14 and No. 2 Florida steamrolled Oklahoma 85-63 on Tuesday night for its fifth consecutive victory.

    Alijah Martin chipped in 14 points off the bench for the Gators (23-3, 10-3 Southeastern Conference), who tied a season-low with six turnovers and improved to 13-1 at home.

    Clayton, Richard and Martin — Florida’s top three scorers — combined to make 15 of 31 shots, including nine 3-pointers. They scored 25 of the team’s first 37 points as the Gators opened a double-digit lead and never looked back.

    Florida played its second game without starting forward Alex Condon and backup Sam Alexis. Both wore protective boots, although Condon participated in the shootaround without one.

    Micah Handlogten, in his second game back since breaking his left leg last March, finished with two points, five rebounds, two assists and a block.

    Jeremiah Fears led the Sooners (16-10, 3-10) with 22 points and five rebounds.

    Takeaways

    Oklahoma: The Sooners’ fifth consecutive loss came amid a daunting stretch that included games against four ranked teams. Each of those losses came by at least 18 points.

    Florida: The Gators have handled their most adversity of the season without a hiccup. They played at times without Clayton, Martin, Condon and Alexis during their current streak.

    Key moment

    The Gators hit five 3-pointers — including three on consecutive possessions over a span of 1:18— to highlight a 17-3 run that turned a six-point game into a lopsided affair in the first half.

    Key stat

    Florida hit 12 of 32 shots from behind the arc, giving coach Todd Golden’s team double-digit 3s in five straight games.

    Up next

    Oklahoma hosts No. 21 Mississippi State on Saturday; Florida plays at LSU later that day.

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  • USF makes sure love wins for Coach Abdur-Rahim

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This one was for Coach.

    This was the kind of game former University of South Florida head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim would have loved.

    What You Need To Know

    • The University of South Florida (USF) and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) honored their late basketball coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, during the Bulls’ double overtime victory against Temple.

    • The AAC named Abdur-Rahim the honorary Coach of the Year and also presented a $15,000 check to the Future Foundation
    • The AAC will also annually present the Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award to a men’s basketball player.

    •  Abdur-Rahim passed away unexpectedly last October


    It was gritty. It went into double overtime. It was emotional. No way would USF lose this game.

    “Every guy was locked in before the game and we did a good job of preparation throughout the week,” USF guard Kobe Knox said. “So we knew what coming into this game and winning the game meant for everybody.”

    This was for Coach Abdur-Rahim. On the same night USF defeated Temple, the Bulls’ former coach was honored by the American Athletic Conference. First, with the AAC’s honorary Coach of the Year award, presented to his family. Then, with a check for $15,000, his contracted bonus for Coach of the Year recognition, made out to the Future Foundation.

    Family members of USF basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim accept the Coach of the Year award on his behalf. (Spectrum Sports 360)

    “I think it’s the least we can do,” AAC Commissioner Tim Pernetti said. “He’s had a short-term permanent impact on the American and he deserves to be honored in this way forever.”

    Coach Abdur-Rahim had spent only a year in the AAC, but he left an indelible mark. And when he passed away unexpectedly in October, just before the start of the season, the league wanted to find ways to honor him.

    His legacy will continue with the annual AAC Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award, given to the men’s basketball player who best exemplifies fair play and leadership.

    “To see the impact that he had, to see that being recognized beyond even his basketball acumen, but to the impact he made on so many,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said.

    You still see Coach Abdur-Rahim everywhere. He’s in the student section that bears his name. He was on t-shirts with his Love Wins mantra. And he was on the court. These Bulls are playing for the man who taught them to dream big. The man who brought pride back into the USF program.

    “He did something here in one year that this school hadn’t done in over 50 years, in terms of winning a regular season title, and that shows his basketball acumen,” Kelly said. “But he did it by connecting people.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Big 12 announces UCF’s 2025 football schedule

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF’s 2025 football schedule features seven home games, including four Big 12 games and a home matchup with Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels, the league announced Tuesday.

    The Knights open their season with two non-conference home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium — the first on Thursday, Aug. 28 against Jacksonville State and then North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Sept. 6, to kick off Family Weekend. Kickoff times have not been announced yet.

    UCF’s other non-conference game will be against Atlantic Coast Conference opponent North Carolina on Sept. 20.

    When UCF begins conference play, coach Scott Frost’s first in the Big 12 with the Knights will be on the road at Kansas State on Sept. 27. Their home conference games will be against Kansas on Oct. 4, West Virginia on Oct. 18 for Homecoming, Houston on Nov. 8 for the Space Game, and Oklahoma State on Nov. 22. No Black Friday game will be played this season.

    The schedule includes two home games each in September, October and November, and the Knights don’t play any back-to-back road games.

    • Aug. 28 vs. Jacksonville State
    • Sept. 6 vs. NC A&T (Family Weekend)
    • Sept. 13 — Off
    • Sept. 20  vs. North Carolina
    • Sept. 27 at Kansas State
    • Oct. 4 vs. Kansas
    • Oct. 11 at Cincinnati
    • Oct. 18 vs. West Virginia (Homecoming)
    • Oct. 25 — Off
    • Nov. 1 at Baylor
    • Nov. 8 vs. Houston (Space Game)
    • Nov. 15 at Texas Tech
    • Nov. 22 vs. Oklahoma State (Senior Knight)
    • Nov. 29 at BYU

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Gators coach Golden cleared in Title IX investigation over stalking allegations

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida has cleared men’s basketball coach Todd Golden following a four-month Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.

    What You Need To Know

    • University of Florida says basketball coach Todd Golden has been cleared in a Title IX investigations

    • The university said there was no evidence to support allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking

    • Golden had said previously that he was frustrated thart confidentiality and privacy continue to be abused in Title IX investigations

    • The Gators are ranked No, 5 and have won 18 of their first 18 games this season

    The school released a statement Monday, saying no evidence was found and ended its investigation. It comes amid No. 5 Florida’s best season in a decade, with the Gators having won 18 of their first 20 games.

    “The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone,” university spokesman Steve Orlando said in a statement. “After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation.”

    Golden previously sidestepped chances to deny the allegations “out of the respect to the process” and threatened legal action, presumably against his publicly unnamed accusers. He also recently ripped proceedings that are supposed to be confidential.

    “I am just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created to protect both sides during a situation like this — that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused,” Golden said earlier this month after assistant coach Taurean Green was accused of sexual assault in another Title IX case.

    The school’s University Athletic Association supported Golden throughout the investigation and backed his confidentiality comment following the case’s dismissal.

    “The UAA acknowledges the completion of the review,” the UAA said in a statement. “We take these matters seriously and understand the need for the process to be conducted with strict confidentiality and discretion.

    “Throughout this process, Coach Golden has demonstrated tremendous focus and professionalism, and we commend him for that. As the Gators move forward, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting a championship experience with integrity.”

    The complaint against Golden accused him of sending explicit photos and videos, making unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requesting sexual favors. The Independent Florida Alligator first reported the allegations in early November.

    Title IX is designed to protect students from discrimination, including sexual harassment. Florida began outsourcing its Title IX investigations in 2023 to Grand River Solutions, a private firm based in California.

    The 39-year-old Golden signed a two-year contract extension last March that included a $1 million raise and brought his annually salary to $4 million. The deal runs through the 2029-30 season. He is 58-31 in three seasons.

    His contract prohibits “romantic, amorous and/or sexual relationships between any coach or other employee of the Association and any student athlete or other person subject to the supervision, control and/or authority of such coach or other employee.”

    It also says the university can take disciplinary action if the coach acts in a manner “that has an ‘adverse effect’ or causes an ‘adverse reflection,’ on the reputation, mission and/or interests” of the athletic department or the university.

    The case against Green, meanwhile, is still ongoing. Green is accused of kissing an athletic department employee and trying to put his hand down her pants in March 2024, according to a complaint reviewed by ESPN.

    The woman said she did not report the alleged incident at the time in part because of Green’s status. Green, who won NCAA championships as a player with the Gators in 2006 and 2007, joined the basketball staff in 2022 following a professional basketball career.

    The woman told ESPN she came forward after Title IX investigators working on Golden’s case asked to interview her last fall about Golden’s interactions with female athletes. She said that inquiry made her realize there could be concerns about a pattern of behavior within the program.

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  • No. 5 Florida survives South Carolina 70-69

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    COLUMBIA, S.C.  — Will Richard scored on a driving layup with 4.8 seconds remaining to lift No. 5 Florida — down 14 points in the the second half — past South Carolina, 70-69 on Wednesday night.

    Richard finished with 22 points for the Gators (17-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference). He drove left from the top of the key and banked in the go-ahead layup.

    Jacobi Wright’s desperation 3-pointer was off the mark as South Carolina (10-9, 0-6) continued its worst start in SEC play since the 2013-14 season.

    Walter Clayton Jr. had 16 points for the Gators — who trailed 52-38 with 12 minutes, 46 seconds to play — and set the program record with a 3-pointer in his 42nd straight game.

    Takeaways

    Florida: The Gators have had uneven start to the SEC with a victory over then-top ranked Tennessee and a loss to Missouri at home two games ago.

    South Carolina: The Gamecocks have never started 0-7 in SEC play, but that’s what looms with No. 14 Mississippi State headed to Columbia on Saturday.

    Key moment

    Trailing by 13 points with less than 9 minutes left, Florida forced three consecutive turnovers in the backcourt that led to baskets that cut it to 58-51. The Gamecocks could not settle themselves after that.

    Key stat

    Florida outscored South Carolina 22-0 on fast-break points.

    Up next

    Both teams are back in action Saturday. Florida returns home to face Georgia, and South Carolina faces No. 14 Mississippi State.

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