The No. 16 Florida Gators slugged out a 67-53 home victory against the Southern University Jaguars on Monday, but the win came with a major loss. Freshman guard Kasey Hill left the game after playing 20 minutes because of a nasty-looking high ankle sprain, and he could miss a month of playing time, coach Billy Donovan told Gatorzone.com afterward.
Florida vs. Southern final score: Kasey Hill injured in win for Gators
No. 16 Florida defeated Southern, but it came at a cost.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Hill finished the night with eight points and three assists, but suddenly the Gators will move into a brutal upcoming month without their main ball-handler. They will face Florida State, UConn, Kansas and Memphis from Nov. 29 to Dec. 17.
Florida could, however, receive a bit of help when guard Scottie Wilbekin returns from a suspension in the near future.
On Monday, after Hill left the floor two minutes into the second half with Florida holding a 37-20 lead, the Gators (3-1) played the Jaguars a little less than even thanks to a late Southern run that cut into the large difference. But the outcome was never in doubt.
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Center Patric Young led the Gators with 12 points and also grabbed six boards. Forward Casey Prather struggled by shooting 2-for-10 from the floor but led the team with nine rebounds. Prather and guard DeVon Walker added 10 points apiece.
As both teams shot around 40 percent from the floor, Florida had only nine turnovers to Southern’s 12. Yet, the Gators scored 19 points off the Jaguars’ miscues, while Southern scored just five off UF’s turnovers. Four of Southern’s turnovers came in the first five-plus minutes of the game, which allowed the Gators to take a 10-2 lead that would only grow.
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