The Florida Gators were defeated by the Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday, 80-83. Overall, the Gators played a decent game, but the three-point shooting from the Aggies was just too much to overcome. This loss will likely eliminate Florida from the NCAA tournament, and that’s just the effect of injuries for the Gators. Here’s a recap of Florida’s loss to Texas A&M.
Kowacie Reeves Leads the Gators
Reeves was the leading scorer for Florida, and he was the only one to score over 20 points and hit more than one three. Reeves had a decent amount of help on the offensive end, with four Gators’ players scoring at least 15 points.
Unfortunately, Florida seemed to struggle from behind the arch with an abysmal shooting percentage of 20%. Turnovers were also an issue, and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. led the Gators with six turnovers. The bench contribution really helped Florida in this game; in fact, Reeves and Niels Lane scored more than the Gators’ starters combined.
It was just too little too late for Florida in this game. Honestly, the Gators just didn’t have the firepower to compete with the Aggies heading into overtime. Nonetheless, it was a great effort by Mike White’s squad offensively.
Gators Have No Luck On Defense
Five Aggies finished with at least 10 points in this game. The real difference-maker was Henry Coleman III, who finished with 22 points on 70% field-goal percentage. Furthermore, Texas A&M’s guards seemed to knock down every three they took, which really helped to spread the floor for the Aggies on offense.
Moreover, Texas A&M’s players were able to get to the line at ease, which was a product of them feeding the ball inside. The Aggies’ reliance on guards definitely worked in this game, and the pace had Florida’s defense on its heels, especially during the first half.
Concluding Thoughts
After a tough loss for Florida, the Gators will now have to wait for the 2022 season instead of competing in March Madness. However, Mike White’s team does have a bright future, but the players need to be kept in good shape and avoid any injuries next year. That’s a tough task in of itself, but the Florida Gators are capable of accomplishing big things with a fully healthy squad.