NCAAB Game Recap - Florida at Vanderbilt
Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:00 PM EST

GaTec
51
UVA
81
F
Tenn
73
Miss
71
F
Hou
99
ECU
65
F
Marq
61
Vill
67
F
OkSt
80
TxTch
84
F(OT)
UNLV
73
Nev
89
F
Ill
56
Purd
73
F
MD
61
PSU
78
F
Cin
52
SMU
49
F
HolyC
59
Colg
79
F
Campbl
85
USC-Up
73
F
UCF
75
SoFL
63
F
LoyMD
69
Army
79
F
Hartfo
96
Bingha
76
F
Clem
62
Pitt
48
F
Buck
53
Navy
64
F
Boston
84
Lafy
82
F
DeP
73
GTown
82
F
Leh
80
Amer
66
F
MOSt
57
IlSt
65
F
SIU
98
Evans
91
F
UNH
62
Albany
58
F
Radf
72
HiPt
54
F
Presb
70
GWebb
78
F
UMBC
63
Stony
78
F
UMassL
70
Maine
61
F
David
69
LaSal
79
F
Rich
63
GMas
77
F
InWor
60
NWSt
68
F
Duques
47
StBon
68
F
UNCA
48
ChaSo
77
F
Niag
86
Canis
84
F
McNee
84
Nich
75
F
LoyIL
56
NrthIA
55
F
SFA
74
CenAR
92
F
SHSU
71
NOrl
60
F
HCU
75
Lamar
110
F
AbCh
73
TXAMC
64
F
IndSt
68
Drake
80
F
Valpa
42
Brad
67
F
(N/A)
64
GrCan
95
F
Lou
59
BC
66
F
Tex
83
Baylor
84
F(OT)
ColSt
76
Bois
62
F
Fla
71
Vand
55
F
Aub
78
UGA
75
F
StJos
66
Ford
52
F
UCRiv
68
CSNor
70
F
Wyo
60
Fres
71
F

Feb 27, 2019, 9:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Florida

41

30

71

Vanderbilt

29

26

55

Florida Gators beat Vandy 71-55 for 5th straight victory
Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:58 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Mike White finally knows what it's like to leave Memorial Gym with a victory.

The Florida coach had lost his first nine trips to the Southeastern Conference's oldest gym as a player at Mississippi, then an assistant coach and even his first three with the Gators. He had company with nobody on the Florida roster having won in this gym.

Andrew Nembhard scored 19 points, and Florida beat Vanderbilt 71-55 Wednesday night to both send White home a winner and extend the Gators' winning streak to a season-high five straight.

"I just told my staff a lot of tough memories in this place for a long time," White said. "I started coming in here at 18 years old, I got a lot of respect for this place and this program, and it's great to break through. Way happier though for our seniors, especially our four-year seniors in Kevarrius Hayes and KeVaughn Allen who broke through and get a chance to say they got one here. And it's nice for Jalen Hudson as well who also played very well."

The Gators (17-11, 9-6 Southeastern Conference) also swept Vanderbilt with their first victory at Memorial Gym since 2014. Nembhard hit his first six shots in his first game inside Memorial, and he had 12 by halftime.

"It was very comfortable out there," Nembhard said.

Hudson added 17 points, and Hayes had 14 for the Gators.

Vanderbilt's worst skid in program history reached 16 straight as the Commodores (9-19, 0-15) never really threatened.

"The slow start really hurt us again," Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said. "We changed the lineup hoping we'd get some energy to start. Credit Florida hit some shots early, got them off to a good start and really thought Nembhard had a sensational game, really had great pace in the ball screen, really made good decisions and used his body well."

Saben Lee led Vanderbilt with 15 points, and Simisola Shittu and Matthew Moyer each added 10. Aaron Nesmith, Vandy's leading scorer in SEC play, was held to six points after having 26 against the Gators in Gainesville on Feb. 13.

Nembhard scored seven of the Gators' first nine points, including an opening 3 that put Florida ahead to stay, and the Gators led 25-12 midway through the half. Vanderbilt finally knocked down some shots, and Moyer's 3 pulled the Commodores within 34-27 with 2:20 left. Allen answered with a 3 as the Gators finished the half on a 7-2 run for a 41-29 halftime lead.

The Gators opened the second half on a 6-1 run, and Allen's jumper with 18:28 to go gave Florida its biggest lead yet at 47-30. Nembhard's 3 with 14:55 left made it 50-32 as the Gators seemed easily in control.

Vanderbilt fought back with a 12-4 run and pulled within 54-44 on a 3-pointer by Lee with 10:25 left. The Gators scored the next nine points and pushed the lead back to 18 down the stretch.

BIG PICTURE

Florida: The Gators absolutely needed this victory ahead of a tough closing week featuring a visit from No. 13 LSU and a trip to Rupp Arena to play No. 4 Kentucky. Now they've got their longest winning streak in league play since winning eight straight in 2016-17.

Vanderbilt: Points off turnovers has been among the Commodores' biggest issues during this skid. The Commodores came into this game being outscored 249-129 just during the past 15 games, and they found themselves outscored by turnovers once again 17-4. Now 8-9 at home, they will need to beat Arkansas in the home finale to salvage a .500 record for the second time at Memorial Gym. They've never had a losing season on their home court.

UP NEXT

Florida: Hosts Georgia on Saturday night.

Vanderbilt: Visits Texas A&M on Saturday.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Florida PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
A. Nembhard 19 0 2 3 0 0
J. Hudson 17 0 2 5 3 0
Vanderbilt PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
S. Lee 15 0 5 2 2 0
M. Moyer 10 0 0 9 0 0

Team Comparison

Fla Vand
Points For 71 55
Field Goals 24/50-48% 21/51-41%
Three Pointers 8/19-42% 6/17-35%
Free Throws 15/16-94% 7/14-50%
Offensive Rebounds 7 11
Defensive Rebounds 23 19
Rebounds 33 30
Blocks 2 2
Steals 5 3
Turnovers 9 14
Personal Fouls 15 17
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Fla Leads Series 2-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Wed Feb 13 Vand 57 @ Fla 66 A. Nesmith 26 K. Johnson 15
Wed Feb 27 Fla 71 @ Vand 55 A. Nembhard 19 S. Lee 15

Game Information

Stadium: Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 8,583
Game Time: