Can Florida Gators Bounce Back After Intense Overtime Battle at Coleman Coliseum?
The Florida Gators, ranked 24th, faced off against the 13th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a game that pushed both teams to their limits. The final score read 98-93 in favor of the Crimson Tide. The Gators now hold a record of 24-13 while the Crimson Tide improved to 13-24.
The match took place at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, where an energetic crowd of 11,077 spectators witnessed a game full of lead changes and ties. Throughout the contest, there were eight instances where the score was tied and an impressive sixteen lead changes, keeping fans on edge until the very last second.
The Gators showcased a strong offensive effort with a total of 93 points. Their scoring was consistent across both halves and overtime with contributions from various players. They managed to accumulate an impressive count of assists (21), demonstrating their ability to work as a cohesive unit on offense. The team's field goal percentage stood at 43 percent after attempting 81 shots.
Florida's performance inside was notable as well; they scored 40 points in the paint and secured another significant chunk of their total points through second-chance opportunities (20). This hustle for rebounds led them to gather a total rebound count of 44, which included both defensive (26) and offensive boards (13).
Defensively, Florida made its presence felt by blocking seven shots over the course of play while also making four steals. Despite these efforts, they committed twenty personal fouls but did not see any player foul out or ejected from the game.
On special teams plays like fast breaks and turnovers, Florida capitalized with quick scoring – earning themselves fourteen fast break points and twelve points off turnovers. Their assist-to-turnover ratio stood at an efficient rate above two.
Alabama's performance should not be overlooked either; they had slightly better shooting percentages than Florida across all categories including two-pointers (56 percent), field goals overall (44 percent), free throws (80 percent), but struggled more from beyond the arc with only twenty-five percent accuracy on three-point attempts.
Looking ahead for Florida Gators fans: The team will return home to Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville for their next matchup against Vanderbilt Commodores on February 24th at noon Eastern Time Zone. Fans can catch this encounter live on SEC Network channel number six hundred eleven.