Florida tops 100 in blowout of No. 16 Alabama

Will Richard scored 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting as Florida sprinted to a 105-87 win over No. 16 Alabama in a Southeastern Conference matchup Tuesday night in Gainesville, Fla.

Walter Clayton Jr. added 22 points and shot 15-for-16 from the free-throw line for Florida (21-9, 11-6 SEC). Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin finished with 19 points apiece.

Mark Sears scored 33 points on 10-for-20 shooting to lead Alabama (20-10, 12-5). Aaron Estrada finished with 17 points, and Grant Nelson chipped in 12.

Alabama guard Rylan Griffen injured his leg in the second half and did not return. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats drew a technical foul after the play in which Griffen was injured because he thought referees should have called a foul on Florida.

The Gators finished with a 27-8 advantage in fastbreak points.

The Crimson Tide, who trailed by 12 early in the second half, pulled within nine with 17:19 to go. Sears made a 3-pointer off an assist from Nick Pringle to cut Alabama’s deficit to 53-44.

The Gators went on a 17-6 run in the next six minutes to seize a 20-point advantage. Alex Condon converted a three-point play with a layup and a free throw to make it 70-50 with 11:25 remaining.

Alabama never threatened the rest of the way. Sears made two free throws to pull the Crimson Tide within 15 points with 4:49 left, but Florida answered with six straight points to increase its lead to 93-72 with 3:58 to go.

Florida led 44-35 at halftime.

The score was 21-21 after Nelson made a pair of free throws with 6:08 remaining in the half.

The Gators responded with a 10-2 run to pull ahead 31-23. Condon made a jump shot to start the run, and Samuel finished it with a layup.

Richard put Florida on top by double digits later in the half. His dunk increased the Gators’ lead to 39-28 with 1:49 to play.

Sears made a layup to finish the first-half scoring.

–Field Level Media