WOW! Could the NCAA Tournament have started any better? We think not, as the Florida Gators edged out the Virginia Tech Hokies by a score of 75-70 in overtime. In a matchup that featured lead swings, stunning twists, frustration, and so much more, the beloved Gators emerged victorious to advance to the round of 32. How did it all happen, you ask?
First Half Recap
To the surprise of many spectators, Virginia Tech came out swinging to start the first half. The Hokies lack of games in recent weeks did not manage to phase the team, as they jumped out to an early 21-11 lead eleven minutes into the contest. However, the Gators quickly returned the favor, going on a 14-5 scoring run in the subsequent five minutes to cut the score down to 26-25. Although the closing minutes of the first period provided much more balance between the two teams, the Hokies would retain the advantage with a 33-27 lead at halftime.
Second Half Recap
The second half contained more equal action between Florida and Virginia Tech, as neither competitor managed to establish a lead beyond eight points. Tyrece Radford gave the Hokies a 44-36 lead five minutes into the half, but from there on out, Florida continuously chipped away at the Hokie advantage.
The Gators asserted their first lead since the beginning of the game after Colin Castleton knocked down a free throw to put the team up 53-52. With under a minute remaining in regulation, the Gators held on to a 64-61 advantage. However, the fortunes of the two teams swapped yet again, as Anthony Duruji missed what would have been a game sealing free throw for the Gators with only seven seconds to go in regulation. The Hokies were quick to capitalize on the mistake, as Nathan Alleyne splashed down a three point jumper with under three seconds left to go, sending the game into an overtime period.
Overtime Recap
In one of the most exciting ways to open an NCAA Tournament, the Florida Gators finally emerged victorious against Virginia Tech in overtime. The two teams continued to maintain a competitive demeanor down the home stretch, as neither managed to establish a big lead in the final period of play. However, there had to be a winner, and who else but Gators guard Tre Mann to ice the game when it mattered the most. The sophomore guard knocked down a three-pointer with under 30 seconds left, eradicating any last chance of victory for the Hokies.
Key Contributors for the Gators
As a team, the Gators shot 24-for-46 (56.5%) on field goals and 18-for-27 (66.7%) on free throws. Florida also tallied 36 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and three blocks in route to their victory over the Hokies. Playerwise, Gators forward Colin Castleton indicated his presence in the game with team highs in both points (19) and rebounds (14). Unfortunately, his valiant efforts may have overshadowed the impressive performance by guard Scottie Lewis, as the bench player for the Gators tallied a career-high 15 points.
Tre Mann played a great game as well, boasting 14 points and a team-high four assists. Tyree Appleby only scored 6 points, as he exited the game after an elbow to the forehead by Keve Aluma. Appleby was quickly rushed to the locker room, where he received stitches and a bandage over his cut. His current status for Sunday’s game against Oral Roberts is still unknown at this point in time.
Key Contributors for the Hokies
For the Hokies, Keve Aluma unfortunately had an off day during the biggest game of the season. The junior forward produced a very mediocre performance scoring wise, going 3-for-6 on field goals with seven points on the day. His efforts were vastly overshadowed by those of Nahiem Alleyne and Tyrece Radford. The VT guards both respectively had great days of shooting the ball, as Alleyne tallied 28 points and Radford 18 points. As for the bench, Hunter Cattoor proved to be the only contributing player for the Hokies. The sophomore guard knocked down 11 points and had 3 rebounds and 3 steals on the day.
Team-wise, Virginia Tech shot 24-for-57 (42.1%) on field goals and 15-for-21 (71.4%) on free throws. The Hokies provided 22 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals, and two blocks during their loss to the Gators.
Concluding Thoughts
With Virginia Tech now out of the way, the Gators will face No. 15 Oral Roberts in the round of 32. The Golden Eagles defeated the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in a stunning 75-72 overtime victory. Although you could say that the Gators earned the preferable matchup, they still have to be careful if they wish to avoid going down the same pathway as Ohio State. The Golden Eagles have proven to be a fierce competitor and a team that knows how to finish in close games.
Either way, Florida still has a long and challenging pathway ahead of them before they can reach the promised land. However, this is March Madness, and nothing is beyond the realm of possibility in this tournament. We’ve seen lower seeds make cinderella runs on multiple occasions, which is why we’re still giving the Gators a chance. If Loyola Chicago and Uconn can do it, so can Florida. With that being said, go Gators!