ChompTalk.com

Seeking the program’s first final four appearance since 2013, the Florida Gators opened NCAA tournament play with a 95-69 win over MEAC champion, Norfolk State Friday night. The Gators (31-4) won their seventh straight game at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC.

The Gators started hot as they raced out to a 19-5 lead and knocked down eighteen of their first thirty shot attempts. Florida led by as many as thirty-two with 3:15 remaining in the first half but the Spartans concluded the period on a 11-0 run to close the gap to 53-32.

The second half was much more back and forth with the Gators only outscoring NSU 42-37. The Spartans got as close as eighteen at 72-54 with just under ten minutes to play in regulation, but wouldn’t get any closer.

Florida was led by first team All-American Walter Clayton, who scored 23 points. Alijah Martin (17), Thomas Haugh (13), and Alex Condon (12) also reached double-figures in the scoring column.

The Gators dominated virtually every statistical category in the matchup. Florida shot 48% from the field while holding the Spartans to 46%. The also outrebounded Norfolk State by thirteen boards.

The Gators will face the two-time defending champion, Connecticut, Sunday afternoon in round of thirty-two action. The Huskies defeated Oklahoma, 67-59, Friday evening.