Florida Men’s Basketball (7-3) vs. Michigan (6-5)
Jumpman Invitational
Florida Game Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/12/18/2023.12.19_vsMichigan.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>
Spectrum Center | Charlotte, N.C.
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 | 7 p.m.
TV/Streaming
ESPN | ESPN App
Play-by-Play: Dave O’Brien | Analyst: Debbie Antonelli | Sideline: Myron Medcalf
Radio
Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD | FloridaGators.com<https://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=5265> | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 374 & SXM App<https://sxm.app.link/SiriusXMSEC>
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley | Analyst: Lee Humphrey | Producer/Engineer: Steve Egan
The Tip-Off
* Florida takes on Michigan in the second installment of the Jumpman Invitational, facing the Wolverines for the first time since the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
* Tuesday marks the Gators’ second trip to Charlotte this season after previously taking on Virginia in the Basketball Hall of Fame series.
* UF came up just short in its first trip to Charlotte while playing without point guard Zyon Pullin, but the Gators’ 70 points in the contest are the most allowed by Virginia yet this season. Both Micah Handlogten and Tyrese Samuel recorded a double-double vs. the Cavaliers.
* The Gators have had a 20-point scorer in six straight games and eight of 10 overall this season.
2023-24 Highlights
* 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 the two games over the holiday break. Florida hosts Grambling State on Friday, Dec. 22, at 4 p.m. and Quinnipiac on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 1 p.m. in the O’Connell Center. Tickets for these games 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.
