Florida scores 111-105 win over Gonzaga in double overtime classic

By
Blake Lovell
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In what was likely the game of the year in college basketball thus far, Florida held on for a 111-105 victory over Gonzaga in double overtime in the Phil Knight Invitational.

The Gators knocked down three 3-pointers in a one minute and nine seconds in the second overtime to seal the win and earn their Motion Bracket championship matchup with No. 1 Duke.

Jalen Hudson led Florida with 35 points and went 8 of 12 from beyond the arc.

Chris Chiozza earned a double-double with 26 points and 10 assists while also adding eight rebounds. KeVaughn Allen also scored in double figures in scoring 23 points and hitting all 11 attempts from the free-throw line.

Gonzaga guard Johnathan Williams had a game-high 39 points.

Florida knocked down 17 3-pointers in the game and shot 80.0 percent from the line in connecting on 28 of 35 attempts.

Lovell’s Analysis

Wow. Just wow.

That game was everything that is right about college basketball, as it was simply one for the ages.

There are plenty of things that stand out in a game like this, but what stood out most for me was that the Gators pulled off a win like this with Egor Koulechov having what could wind up being his worst game of season.

Koulechov scored only four points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field and was essentially a non-factor aside from grabbing eight rebounds.

But as I’ve mentioned a few times now, what gives Florida the potential to be a Final Four type team is that it has a few other elite scorers that can pick up the slack, and that’s exactly what we saw from Hudson and Allen.

I do not think it’s a stretch to say that Mike White’s team could be the second-best team in the country right now.

And, of course, should the Gators take down Duke in the championship game on Sunday, I’d have no problem ranked them No. 1.

This team is that good, and the performance against Gonzaga proved that Florida is built for massive success in March.

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