Florida hammers LSU in Gainesville

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

LSU fought up a weight class on Tuesday night.

The result was a predictable one. Defending national champion Florida controlled the early action and gradually built a lead. LSU stayed within arm’s length much of the game but never threatened to beat a superior team on its home floor.

A buzzer-beating three from Thomas Haugh gave the Gators a 38-26 halftime lead that never shrunk to single digits in the final 20 minutes. It grew to as many as 24.

Florida prevailed, 79-61, at Exactech Arena in Gainesville to drop the Tigers to 1-5 in SEC play.

The biggest story was the return of Tiger point guard DJ Thomas who saw action for the first time in conference play. Thomas didn’t appear limited physically. He was on the floor for 17 minutes and finished just 1-for-8 from the floor.

Rust is expected after about a month away. Thomas was able to dish out three assists. He didn’t turn the ball over.

Florida’s size completely overwhelmed LSU as Reuben Chinyelu lead an assault on the backboards. He finished with 20 rebounds, tying his career high, as the Gators beat LSU 50-30 on the glass. Their 24 offensive rebounds led to 21 second chance points.

Ultimately, that allowed the Gators to take 12 more field goals and 12 more free throws than the Tigers.

It was a contest between a team with Final Four aspirations and a program trying to find any footing at all. This was always going to be the toughest week on the schedule, and Tuesday nights drubbing lent credence to that.

LSU now gets Thomas back to the practice floor in some capacity. He’ll be critical if LSU is going to make a run in the second half of conference play.