The Florida Gators basketball team faced its first tough test of the 2024-25 season, narrowly defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 90-84 at the Jumpman Invitational held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The No. 7 ranked Gators improved their record to 11-0, but it was a hard-fought battle.
In front of a large North Carolina crowd at the Spectrum Center, Florida squandered a 17-point lead in the first half and fell behind 81-77 with just over four minutes remaining. However, the Gators rallied with a 13-3 run to secure the victory. Senior guard Will Richard made a crucial putback with less than a minute on the clock, giving Florida the lead at 86-84. After a missed three-point attempt by UNC’s RJ Davis, Florida managed to drain the clock and seal the game with free throws by Thomas Haugh, who finished with a total of two made shots from the line with only 7.3 seconds remaining.
Richard led Florida with 22 points, while teammate Alijah Martin contributed 19 points. On the opposing side, Davis was a standout for North Carolina, scoring 29 points. With this win, Florida improved its historical record against North Carolina to 3-4, marking their first victory over the Tar Heels since defeating them in the Final Four in 2000.
This match was noteworthy as it was Florida’s first close win of the season after dominating its previous ten opponents by an average margin of 21.1 points.
Key takeaways from the game:
1. **Strong Start:** Florida jumped to an early lead with a 10-0 run, showcasing their shooting ability with back-to-back three-pointers, which silenced the UNC crowd. They led by as many as 17 points in the first half and took a 46-34 advantage into halftime.
2. **Second Half Struggles:** Florida struggled to maintain its momentum as North Carolina opened the second half with an 11-0 run, closing the gap significantly.
3. **Turnovers Impact:** The Gators committed 17 turnovers during the game, allowing North Carolina to capitalize with 24 points off those mistakes.
This exciting matchup highlights the resilience of the Gators and serves as a learning experience, showcasing key areas for improvement as they continue their season. The team’s ability to bounce back from adversity and secure a victory bodes well for their future games and builds confidence as they aim for a deeper tournament run.
Overall, this win underscores Florida’s potential as a strong contender this season.