What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  – Senior guard Xaivian Lee scored 19 points to lead four Florida players into double-figure scoring, as the 23rd-ranked Gators broke for the holidays Sunday afternoon with a 90-60 defeat of Colgate at Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center. 

For Lee, whose early season struggles were well documented, it was the fifth time in the last six games that he led the team in scoring. He hit six of his 10 field-goal tries, all six of his free throws and also had three assists and a pair of steals. The Gators also got double-doubles from junior forward Alex Condon (16 points, 10 rebounds, plus 5 assists) and junior center Rueben Chinyelu (16 points, 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end). Junior wing Thomas Haugh threw in 17 points. 

The Gators, in winning their third straight, opened a 10-point lead nine minutes into the game and mostly held that margin before a run early to the second half turned the game into a blowout.

Turning Point 

UF’s start to the second half — 8-for-10 from the floor, 3-for-3 from distance and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line — took any potential drama out of what was just a nine-point lead early in the period.
 

Staggering Statistic

UF came into the game defending the 3-point line at 28.1%, which ranked 17th in the country. Colgate went 11-for-17 from the deep in a 30-point loss. That’s 64.7% (compared to 31.2% from 2). The last time Florida gave up 60% from the arc in a win was Nov. 11, 2011 in a 99-59 defeat of Jackson State, which went nine of 13 (69.2%).
 

Up Next

Florida (8-4) will break for the holidays and return Friday to begin prep for the final pre-Southeastern Conference game, a Dec. 29 home date against Dartmouth (5-6). UF will open the league season Jan. 3 at Missouri.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.