Texas A&M
8-2
Florida
8-2
A&M Falls to No. 13 Florida, 84-64
Dec 17, 2011 | Men's Basketball
SUNRISE, Fla.--Elston Turner matched a career high with 20 points and David Loubeau poured in a season-high 20, but No. 22 Texas A&M was unable to overcome an early 16-point deficit en route to an 84-64 defeat at the hands of No. 13 Florida Saturday in the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Classic at BankAtlantic Center.
UF's Kenny Boynton scored 22 points, sinking six 3-pointers, and was voted the game's most valuable player. Erving Walker had 16 points and six assists, and Bradley Beal added 16 points for Florida.
The Gators came into the game leading the nation in 3-pointers and ranked third in scoring, and they showed why from the start. Florida took leads of 7-0, 18-2 and 35-14.
At halftime it was 50-25, with Florida outscoring Texas A&M 21-0 from 3-point range. The scoring spree came against an Aggies team that had been allowing only 51.4 points per game.
Turnovers hurt the Aggies early, and they played eight minutes before making their first basket.
The Gators (8-2) won for the first time in three games this season against teams that are in the Top 25. Texas A&M (8-2) had a six-game winning streak snapped.
The Aggies' Khris Middleton, playing in his second game after being sidelined with a knee injury, shot only five for 18. He scored 12 points and added seven rebounds and seven assists.
David Loubeau, a native of nearby Miami, scored 20 points for the Aggies. Elston Turner also had 20.
Erik Murphy scored 13 for the Gators, including seven of their first nine points.
Florida's only losses have been to No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Ohio State. The Gators finished just under their scoring average of 86.8 points per game. More than half their shots came from 3-point range, and they made 11 of 31.
The margin reached 26 points early in the second half before the Gators cooled off. They shot only 39 percent after halftime, and the Aggies cut the margin to 73-61 with 2:12 left.
Texas A&M's comeback bid ended when Walker sank a 3-pointer, then made two free throws.
The Aggies missed their first seven shots. By the time Middleton scored their first basket eight minutes into the game, Florida had seven field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers.
The Gators increased their lead to 37-16, with 15 of those points coming off turnovers.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES
- Elston Turner tied a career high with 20 points, set as a sophomore at Washington against Seattle University (1/26/10).
- Miami Westlake Prep product David Loubeau scored a season-high 20 points ... Loubeau's effort was two points shy of his career high ... Loubeau needs 17 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
- Dash Harris matched a career high with 8 assists, set as a sophomore against Akron (12/4/09).
- Khris Middleton tied a career high with 7 assists, set last season against Baylor.
- A&M's 17 assists were the second-highest total of the season.
- Florida now leads the all-time series, 2-1 ... Saturday marked the first meeting between the schools since the 1992-93 season.
Texas A&M Head Coach Billy Kennedy
On Florida's offense: "Offensively, they're so good with Walker creating so many opportunities and with Boynton shooting the ball like that. They're very difficult to guard and we couldn't slow them down."
On Florida's defense: "Defensively, they did a really good job of speeding us up and getting us out of our tempo. When you give up 50 points against a good team in this environment, it's going to be very difficult to win".
"Their (Florida) quickness and athleticism gave us a lot of problems. That's why they're one of the better teams in the country. Their three guards are experienced and very good offensively and create havoc defensively and that's why I think they're so difficult to play.
On second half adjustments the Aggies made: "We made the adjustment by going small in the second half and that helped us some, but for us that matchup is very difficult because we're not the quickest and most athletic team on the perimeter."
Texas A&M Senior Forward David Loubeau:
On Florida guard Kenny Boynton: "Personally, I played AAU with Kenny Boynton. He's a great player and he's very hard to guard. This is the type of atmosphere where he's back home and he just went with the crowd and he had a great game. He can get to the basket, he has a good hesitation dribble and he can shoot it well."
On playing back in his hometown: "It's always good to come back and see my family but this trip was not a successful trip for us."
Texas A&M Junior Guard Elston Turner:
On the tempo of the game: "I feel like in the first half we were playing on our heels too much and playing kind of timid. That's what caused them to throw that first punch and get out to that big lead. In the second half we settled in and played how we normally can play. We've got to get out to a better start than that."
On Florida's defense: "We knew they played aggressive defense and they were going to trap and press for forty minutes, but we just didn't come out ready for that aggressiveness."
Florida Head Coach Billy Donovan
On his teams free throw shooting: "We're a better free throw shooting team then the stats show. Kenny's a good free throw shooter as is Erving. Brad made his free throws. How good of a free throw shooting team are we? I know were better than 59 percent. They've worked at it and put the time in and we need to keep doing that."
Things to take away from the game: "The first half was so balanced everywhere around, on offense and defense. Aside from Erving and Kenny, the team is all new. There's a camaraderie between those guys. During the first half, they started to see what's open and what's available."
On what they did better tonight: "Tonight we took advantage of what the defense was giving us. Those guys drove it and instead of taking difficult shots, they (Kenny and Erving) found open guys. When they could get all the way to the rim, they did finish."
Florida Freshman Guard Bradley Beal:
On defense in the second half:
Our defense slipped up a little bit Coach Donovan said. I think guys got too complacent with the score and everything like that. We were kind of easing up giving them too many easy shots but at the same time we tried to maintain our composure and keep defending the best we could.
On the importance of hustle plays and stats:
Those are momentum changers really. Because once you get somebody in foul trouble, it may be their best player so he's really starting to play a little timid now and we can start attacking. It opens up everything else.
Florida Junior Guard Kenny Boynton:
On his shooting range:
I feel like when I hit one I can stretch out a little bit. My range in the first half they got in a two-three zone and I hit one deep. I think Erving did a great job of creating on offense and he found me open on a lot of shots.
On playing in his hometown:
It's always great to come back home and have a great performance. This is our third year here. The first year we lost but last year we won, so I think I played well overall but I'm more happy with the win.
