Sunrise FL– The outside weather is warm inside the Home of the Florida Panthers; it was ice cold and slippery. Both teams struggled with their footing here at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.
The first half was a slug fest between the Gators and the Bulls, I think that was because of the slippery floor conditions. However, the Gators found their death roll despite only shooting 41% from the field and put the Bulls through it. The USF Bulls shot 39% from the field and 0-5 in three -point shooting. Florida, had their largest run at the end of the first half when
Phlandrous Fleming Jr, made a lay-up giving the Gators a 30-18 lead at the half; after the Bulls Jamir Chaplin, was called for offensive goaltending. The Bulls were led by Caleb Murphy (8 points), in the first half.
The second half was more of the same the Gators applying pressure against the Bulls
back court.
The Bulls had trouble getting anything together in the second half. However, the
Bulls did generate a 6-0 nothing run past Florida with 12:22 left in the contest, meanwhile the Gainesville found itself in the midst of a 2:44 scoring drought (their second of the game).
USF’s Jake Boggs hit the Bulls first three pointers of the
game at the 11:30 mark of the second half. Prior to that Trey the Bulls were 0-5 from beyond the arch. The Green and Gold are missing their Center Russel Tchewa ( absent due to a thigh injury.
Chaplin who has been picking up the slack averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds the last 3 contest. In this game he had 2 points and just 3 rebounds on 13:30 minutes. He finished the game with 5 points and was 0-3 from three-point land.Murphy led the Bulls with 14 points in 36 minutes. While the entire South Florida team shot below 20% from the three-point land the Gators took over the game halfway through the first half and never looked back.
Colin Castleton of the Gators won the MVP award. The Bulls sent the Gators to the free throw line 15 times and the Gators took advantage shooting 80%.
Coach Brian Gregory says, “That we need to get those tips and taps on the defensive rebounds. They got one-third of their rebounds from those tips and taps.”
Florida Head Coach Mike White, gave the Bulls Guard Caleb Murphy praise saying, “He got 16 on us and can wiggle and make an easy 2.” White also, gave USF’s team praises as well
“They are a tough team they lose close game and will be tough to beat in their conference.”
The University of South Florida will start conference play January 1, against the East Carolina Pirates. The Bulls will be on the road for the next couple of weeks as the team travels to Hawaii to take on BYU. The next Bulls home game is December 29 th against Mississippi Valley State 7pm.
The Bulls fall to (4-5) on the year and the Gators improved to (8-3).
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