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Gators Gun Down Hatters in Florida Citrus Shootout

Men's Basketball Stetson University

Gators Gun Down Hatters in Florida Citrus Shootout

ORLANDO – On a night when the Stetson Hatters managed to make just one three-pointer, the ninth-ranked Florida Gators established a new season-high by making 14 in a 96-70 victory at the Amway Center.

Stetson falls to 3-3 on the year with the loss while the Gators improved to 5-1. The victory was Florida's 17th straight over Stetson and was Gators coach Billy Donovan's 400th career win.

After Stetson freshman Dennis Diaz banked in a three-pointer just 2:45 into the game, the Hatters went 0-for-16 from beyond the arc the rest of the way. The three by Diaz knotted the score at 7-7, but was answered just 17 seconds later by Florida's Bradley Beal, and the Gators were never truly threatened again.

“I told our team that the only way for us to have made that game more competitive was to shoot the ball a lot better than we did and for them to shoot it at least a little worse than they did,” Hatters coach Casey Alexander said.

The Gators' outside shooting was more than enough to overcome career nights from three Stetson players, and a near career night for a fourth. Junior Chris Perez scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, falling one point shy of his career best.

Junior center Adam Pegg (19 points) along with sophomore Willie Green (11) and Diaz (9, all in the first half) all set career highs.

“I am proud of my guys,” Alexander said. “I think they competed and worked hard to try to do what we asked them to do for the entire 40 minutes. It was not without mistakes. Individually, everyone could have played better and we could have played better as a team, but I am not disappointed with the guys in the green jerseys.”

Stetson was down by more than 20 points on several occasions in the second half, but continued to battle through their shooting woes. The Hatters got to within 14 on a layup by Joel Narburgs with 12:20 to play but, as they did all night, Florida answered with a three-pointer, this one by Erving Walker.

In the first half the Gators nailed eight of their 19 three-point attempts in the period.

Florida hit most of its three-pointers early in the half, however, building as much as a 22-point lead with 7:18 left, but the Hatters started to have some success defensively with their zone, and battled back to within nine points on two occasions before Florida pushed the lead back to 16, 47-31, at halftime.

Stetson had two first-year players, freshman Diaz and sophomore Green, carry the load for the Hatters, both scoring nine points, all off the bench. That duo out-scored the Hatters' starters 18-13 in the first half.

“I am disappointed with the outcome,” Alexander said. “I would not have taken a 26-point loss before the game, but I am proud of the efforts we are making and I think it is going to give us a chance, down the road, to be a better basketball team.”

Florida placed five players in double figures in the game, led by Beal's 22. Walker added 21 while Kenny Boynton (13), Will Yeguete (10) and Mike Rosario (10) all chipped in.

The Gators' sophomore center, Patric Young, was outplayed by Stetson's Pegg in the paint. Young managed just nine points and three rebounds to go with a technical for a flagrant foul, while Pegg had four boards and three assists to go with his 19 points.

“Adam played well,” Alexander said. “From the very beginning I think he wanted to score, and that was against a pretty good defensive player in there (Young). In our league, he has a chance to be a dominant player.”

The Hatters will be back in action at the Edmunds Center on Thursday night when they open Atlantic Sun Conference play against East Tennessee State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Adam Pegg

#41 Adam Pegg

F/C
6' 9"
Junior
Chris Perez

#3 Chris Perez

G
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Dennis Diaz

#1 Dennis Diaz

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Willie Green

#3 Willie Green

F
6' 7"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Adam Pegg

#41 Adam Pegg

6' 9"
Junior
F/C
Chris Perez

#3 Chris Perez

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Dennis Diaz

#1 Dennis Diaz

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Willie Green

#3 Willie Green

6' 7"
Sophomore
F