[Zackary Weiss]

Coming up at 6:30 p.m., Florida men’s basketball (13-12, 6-6) will invite Ole Miss (10-15, 2-10) into the O’Connell Center for an SEC matchup the Gators can’t afford to lose. Follow along right here for live updates from court-side in the O’Dome.

TV: SEC Network

Live stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/index.html?id=425395&_gl=1*m9l6o2*_ga*MTU2NzgxNzkwNy4xNjYyODUzODAz*_ga_2ZWVK1X7BJ*MTY3NjUwMjY0MS4xMy4wLjE2NzY1MDI2NDEuMC4wLjA.

[Zackary Weiss]

Here we go. Teams just finished warming up, and starting lineups are about to be announced.

Looks like it’s gonna be Lofton, Jones, Richard, Kugel, Castleton for Florida in what is a game they truly can’t afford to lose.

[Zackary Weiss]

Not to pay any compliment to the competition, but I can’t deny the fact that I have eyes. And, therefore, I’d be remiss not to mention that these Ole Miss jerseys might just be the cleanest in college basketball.

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators get the tip, and we are officially a-go. Let’s see what this Florida team does with their backs completely against the wall.

[Zackary Weiss]

Myreon opens the game with a three and a steal. Enough words can’t describe how good this guy’s been as of late. Looks like he’s on it yet again tonight.

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators are incredibly active defensively early, but just can’t seem to finish possessions off and corral defensive boards. Rebels playing with more energy and effort here early.

[Zackary Weiss]

Refs just brutally missed both a travel and a kicked ball on the same possession.

[Zackary Weiss]

The Gators are playing with no energy right now.

[Zackary Weiss]

Well, everyone but Myreon.

[Zackary Weiss]

The missed travel, the missed kicked ball, the missed backcourt and then that foul called on Lofton. This has to be some of the worst officiating I’ve seen in person through the first four minutes here.

[Zackary Weiss]

Rebels 1-7 from the field to start. Gators 2-3.

[Zackary Weiss]

And yes the 2 for Florida are indeed Myreon Jones’ threes.

[Zackary Weiss]

BIG drive and finish for Reeves here early is great to see. Maybe THIS could be his “comeback game”?

[Zackary Weiss]

Fudge in for the first time tonight.

[Zackary Weiss]

Rebels open in a 1-3-1 out of the timeout and Florida breaks it apart right away with a simple corner-middle-baseline series of passes. Ole Miss calls TO and, presumably, will ditch the 1-3-1 — or at the least adjust it.

[Zackary Weiss]

Jitoboh coming in. Assuming for Colin.

[Zackary Weiss]

Kugel on his way in as well for Myreon.

[Zackary Weiss]

You could see a little pep in Reeves’ step as he ran back down the court after knocking down the three. You can just tell he really, really wants this. He wants that “comeback game.”

[Zackary Weiss]

Rebels have opened the game 3-14 with five turnovers, and the Gators lead by just six. 15-9 Florida with 11:02 remaining in the first.

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators currently trail in offensive rebounding 6-0 and in overall rebounding 10-5.

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators trail 16-15 after a 7-0 Ole Miss run. The O’Dome is crickets right now.

[Zackary Weiss]

Florida’s giving them the mid-range shot every time down the floor; which, isn’t a horrible strategy — running them off the line and then packing the paint, forcing long twos. But, the issue is that they’re starting to knock down those long twos — which is opening up the rest of their offense.

[Zackary Weiss]

Outside of Colin, Myreon and Reeves, nobody on this Gators team looks super interested in this game.

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators up to eight turnovers to Ole Miss’ six. Florida trails 19-17 with 7:08 to go in the first. Jones leads the Gators with six points, while Murrell leads the Rebels with seven.

[Zackary Weiss]

Richard knocks down the corner three and stares down the Rebels’ bench. Florida back up, 24-22

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators finally start to play with some energy for a quick stretch, go on a 7-0 run. Ole Miss calls a TO as Florida now leads 26-22 with 4:51 remaining in the first.

[Zackary Weiss]

Ole Miss back in the 1-3-1, and it immediately gets ripped apart once again by Florida. I’m not sure why they’re still going back to this D, but I know the Gators and their fans should be happy about it when they do.

[Zackary Weiss]

OKAY WACIE!

📺 https://t.co/IMuzVtfVQP#GoGators pic.twitter.com/JlsEyxTevc

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 15, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

It took him 17 minutes, but Colin’s finally on the board with 2.

[Zackary Weiss]

What a freakin’ shot by Reeves with the shot clock about to hit zero. Saying the Gators needed that doesn’t even begin to describe it.

[Zackary Weiss]

HALF: Florida 39, Ole Miss 29#Gators go into the locker room making all nine of their last nine attempts from the field, but are getting absolutely dominated in the offensive-rebounds category 11-1. @InsideTheGators pic.twitter.com/BenAAN3HDb

— Weiss (@ZackaryWeiss_) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

Finding @RileyKugel 💥
MJ 👀 → Riley 🚀

📺 https://t.co/IMuzVtfVQP#GoGators pic.twitter.com/tZdhHBm5RL

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

Shot clock winding down, @wacie_wacie says ok 💥

🔸 Wacie with the loooong three ⏳#GoGators pic.twitter.com/dErsBdjCZo

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

After 20 🐊

🔸 Ended the half on a 7-0 run
🔸9-of-9 from the field 🎯#GoGators pic.twitter.com/MyQ2UiKwZY

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

Stats at the half 📊

pts | 9 | @willrxch
reb | 5 | @MyreonJones21
ast | 4 | @Kloft0
blk | 3 | @Castleton_ #GoGators pic.twitter.com/FGenYxosob

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

Three points of note as we start this second half here:

1) Offensive rebounds. BOX OUT.
2) Turnovers. You gotta hold on to the ball in order to put this Rebels team away. Because, if for nothing else, they play hard.
3) 1-3-1… Ole Miss is running a zone that the Gators should be breaking EVERY TIME. Corner-middle-baseline. It’s there after time they do it. Make them go back to man, in which they can not guard you 1 on 1.

[Zackary Weiss]

Colin Castleton is in pain on the bench, holding his right wrist and getting looked at by two trainers.

Brutal blow in a must-win game to keep postseason hopes alive.

[Zackary Weiss]

Colin’s back in the locker room now.

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators 6 for their last 8 from the floor.

[Zackary Weiss]

KUGEL SLAM 🔨

Gators 64 | Rebels 49#GoGators | @RileyKugel pic.twitter.com/YZ65XLBGNg

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

anotha one for @MyreonJones21 👌#GoGators pic.twitter.com/AsTeByWmwy

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

Gators lead 71-56 with 3:53 to go. Richard and Reeves lead the way for Florida with 13 a-piece.

[Zackary Weiss]

Lofton’s gotta go up with the floater there.

[Zackary Weiss]

FINAL: Florida 79, Ole Miss 64

Myreon Jones' 15 & 8 leads the #Gators past the Rebels in what was a must-win game. Florida next takes the court Saturday against Arkansas.@InsideTheGators pic.twitter.com/V36iYlleXx

— Weiss (@ZackaryWeiss_) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

O'Dome dub 🐊 pic.twitter.com/NYqP1GLAGP

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

[Zackary Weiss]

Home dub ✔️#GoGators | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/WN7dHvYS3N

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 16, 2023

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