After upsetting the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, the No. 15 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles upset the No. 7 Florida Gators on Sunday night.
First Half Recap
Florida got a step ahead to start the game, jumping to a 24-18 lead past the midway mark. The star of the Virginia Tech game, Colin Castleton, only had four points in the first half. However, Noah Locke and Tre Mann stepped up, each scoring double figures before halftime. However, the Gators had no answer for Max Abmas, who scored 16 points in the period. Every time the Gators looked to go on a run, Abmas or Kevin Obanor made a big shot. There was a balance of energy from both squads, but neither was able to break away. The Gators ended the half with a 42-37 lead, but it seemed too close for comfort.
Second Half Recap
Where to start? It seemed that the Gators were in control until the five-minute mark. Tre Mann gave a boost coming out of halftime with two huge threes. Tyree Appleby also set a good tone, finishing the game with 14 points, but Abmas and Obanor continued to dominate. They both finished with a combined 54 points; it felt like a two-man game on their side. The Gators continued to hurt their chances by committing fouls and sloppy turnovers. It just seems ridiculous to send the 2nd best free-throw shooting team, percentage-wise, to the line consistently. Castleton did score 10 points in the second half, but his play did not match the aggression he showed in the matchup against the Hokies. Even then, the Florida Gators had an opportunity to tie the game at the end, but Mike White chose to let Mann work in isolation rather than get a good shot behind the three-point line.
Key Contributors for the Gators
The Gators shot a field goal percentage of 55.2%, and a free throw percentage of 77.8% in the loss to the Golden Eagles on Sunday night. Florida dominated on the boards with 37 rebounds, ending the game with a rebound margin of +13. There were balanced contributions by the stars. Mann, Locke, and Appleby all finished in double figures, and Castleton had yet another double-double. But Scottie Lewis took a step back for this game, scoring zero points in 18 minutes, which proved to be vital for Florida.
Key Contributors for the Golden Eagles
The only two players to score in double figures for the Eagles were Max Abmas and Kevin Obanor. Who would have guessed? Obanor ended the game with a double-double, scoring 28 points and grabbing 11 boards. Abmas finished with 26 points, but he went to the line 12 times and made every single free-throw. Both of them played the entire game and dominated; it was an unbelievable effort.
In the end, basketball is a team game. Why did Oral Roberts win? They won the turnover margin by +8, and committed 11 fouls compared to the Gators’ 19. There was efficient play on both sides of the ball, and their best players delivered in crunch time. Their largest lead was three, and that lead happened to come at the end of the game.
Concluding Thoughts
The Florida Gators’ season officially comes to an end. After beating Virginia Tech by five in overtime, Mike White’s team was unable to close against Oral Roberts. The Golden Eagles will now face the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sweet 16, and they have a fighting chance as long as their dynamic duo stays fierce and healthy.
March “Madness” is clearly present in this year’s NCAA tournament. While the Gators should keep their heads up as they look forward to next season, changes will have to be made to avoid a 5th place finish in the SEC and another Round of 32 exit. Next year’s Florida Gators should have a great shot at the Final Four in New Orleans.