Despite thirty-three points from guard Walter Clayton, the Gators suffered their first loss of the year in a 106-100 contest at Kentucky to open SEC play.
Kentucky’s senior sharpshooter Koby Brea finished with 23 points and made seven of his first eight three-point attempts.
Florida utilized a 18-9 run late in the second half to cut the deficit to just two at 89-87 but left senior Lamont Butler open for a three with just under four minutes remaining.
Alijah Martin scored twenty of his twenty-six points in the second half and was key to Florida keeping it close in the early minutes of the second half.
Florida started the game hot, getting all the looks they wanted and by the midpoint of the first half, the Gators led by as many as eleven. Center Rueben Chinyelu was a major factor as he collected five offensive rebounds in the opening twenty minutes.
Kentucky, however, wasn’t done. A 16-0 Wildcats run put the game back in UK’s favor. By halftime, the Gators eleven point lead had turned into a ten point deficit.
Thomas Haugh (11) and Chinyelu (10) were the other double-digit scorers for Florida. Overall, Florida shot 55% from the floor but allowed the Wildcats 58% including 14-29 from beyond the three point stripe.
The Gators will have to turn it around quickly as the road doesn’t get any easier moving into conference play. Florida will face No. 1 Tennessee (14-0) Tuesday evening in Gainesville. Tennessee opened SEC action with a 76-52 win over No. 23 Arkansas.
ChompTalk.com 
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