Florida Men’s Basketball (9-3) vs. Quinnipiac (9-3)
Florida Game Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/12/27/2023.12.30_Quinnipiac.pdf> | 2023-24 Media Guide<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/10/30/2023-24_Media_Guide_Web.pdf> | Media Resources<https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iv6cc1nl98a49pv/AAD_LkZm6hKvVz7FpyboOUR1a?dl=0>
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Gainesville, Fla.
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 | 1 p.m.
TV/Streaming
ESPNU | ESPN App<http://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=b70c188d-939a-42f9-85cb-671312ef27c1>
Play-by-Play: Mike Morgan | Analyst: Mark Wise
Radio
Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD | FloridaGators.com<https://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=5267> | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 389 & SXM App<https://sxm.app.link/979>
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley | Analyst: Lee Humphrey | Producer/Engineer: Steve Egan
The Tip-Off
* Florida wraps its nonconference slate with its first all-time meeting against Quinnipiac. The Gators carry a five-game winning streak into the game, looking to cap an undefeated December.
* The Gators hold a 5-0 record at home and are hunting for their first undefeated nonconference home record since an 8-0 record in 2013-14 (excludes 1-0 marks in 2016-17 and 2020-21).
* Florida also seeks its third 10-win regular season nonconference slate over the past 10 seasons. Since posting 11 such wins in 2013-14, UF reached 10 wins during the 2016-17 and 2021-22 seasons.
* The Gators had five double-figure scorers in their last outing, a 96-57 rout of Grambling State heading into the holiday break, including a 17-point performance from Will Richard with five 3-pointers and Tyrese Samuel’s fifth double-double of the season.
2023-24 Highlights
* Zyon Pullin scored 22 and Tyrese Samuel posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in the Gators’ double overtime victory vs. Michigan in Charlotte. Pullin’s 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds remaining in the first overtime forced the second extra session, where an 11-0 UF run put the game away.
* In his homecoming game at Lakeland vs. East Carolina, Walter Clayton Jr. exploded for 20 first-half points on the way to a team-leading 22. Clayton scored 10 of the Gators’ first 12 points out of the gate playing just down the road from his hometown of Lake Wales.
* Will Richard earned Orange Bowl Classic MVP honors as he scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half to lead the Gators vs. Richmond. Richard posted a solo 9-0 run as he hit three 3-pointers in a 90-second span that helped create separation vs. the Spiders.
* Walter Clayton Jr. scored 21 of his 26 points vs. Merrimack in the second half. Freshman Alex Condon added his first career double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Condon’s 16 boards were the most by a Florida freshman since Al Horford’s 18 vs. Alabama during the 2004-05 season.
* Florida came up just short against 13th-ranked Baylor in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship game as Riley Kugel exploded for 25 points and nine rebounds, both career highs. Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin earned All-Tournament Team honors, and Samuel added SEC Player of the Week recognition.
* The Gators topped Pitt in the first game of the NIT Season Tip-Off behind 28 points from Walter Clayton Jr. on 6-for-8 shooting from 3-point range, a 20-point, 10-rebound performance from Tyrese Samuel and a 24-to-8 assist-to-turnover showing as a team.
* Florida blitzed Florida State, leading 27-5 before taking a 52-22 advantage into halftime. The Gators shot .643 and held the Seminoles to .258 from the field during the first half. Walter Clayton Jr. led UF with 19 points, while Zyon Pullin and Tyrese Samuel added 15 each and Thomas Haugh grabbed 10 rebounds.
* Micah Handlogten (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Tyrese Samuel (10 points, 11 rebounds) both posted their first double-double as Gators in a hard-fought loss vs. Virginia in Charlotte.
Rowdy Reptile for a Game Ticket Package
Gator Men’s Basketball fans have the unique opportunity to sit in the UF student section for Saturday’s game. Tickets are only $20 and include an exclusive holiday-themed Gators t-shirt with every ticket purchased! Click here<https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/Rowdy4Day> for more information and to get your ticket package while supplies last.
SEC Weekend 4-Pack
With the Jan. 6 game vs. Kentucky sold out, fans have the opportunity to purchase seats for the remaining four SEC Saturday games. The SEC Weekend 4-Pack<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/flexplan/9629/1> features $189 plans in the 100 level and $99 plans in the 200 level and includes games vs. Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn and Vanderbilt.
