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<p>Florida forward Devin Robinson fights for a shot against Florida Gulf Coast forward Antravious Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday Nov. 11, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union via AP)</p>

Florida forward Devin Robinson fights for a shot against Florida Gulf Coast forward Antravious Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday Nov. 11, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union via AP)

Charlotte’s players call themselves the 49ers but looked more like ditch diggers on Saturday, burying themselves under a 26-point first-half deficit. And after a tough loss to FSU, Florida took its frustration out on Charlotte, 87-46, in Sunrise, Florida.

Playing without starting center John Egbunu, the Gators (8-3) sped up the offense, reeling in rebounds and racing to the other end for easy buckets against an undersized and overmatched Charlotte (6-4) defense.

Canyon Barry was Florida’s top scorer with 16 points, making nine of his 10 underhanded free throws.

“I feel really confident at the line,” Barry said on a radio broadcast. “So anytime I can get there, I feel like it’s free points.”

Devin Robinson had 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting en route to being named the Orange Bowl Classic MVP, complemented by an emphatic putback dunk on a missed three. He finished with a game-high nine rebounds.

Defensively, Florida’s length bothered Charlotte all game.

The 49ers shot 27 percent compared to Florida’s 50 percent. Charlotte’s leading scorer, Jon Davis, who averages more than 20 points per game, didn’t score until making a free throw with seven minutes left in the game.

“I thought Kasey Hill set the tone early with him,” UF coach Mike White said on a radio broadcast after the game. “(Hill) did a really good job of expending some energy, bothering him a little bit, pressuring him.”

Clemson transfer Austin Ajukwa had 12 points for Charlotte and was the only 49er to finish the game in double figures.

Despite Florida’s leading rebounder, Egbunu, sitting out with a hamstring injury, the Gators dominated the boards to the tune of a 44-23 advantage.

“I knew we had a size advantage, but that doesn’t change the fact that we all knew we had to block out,” forward Kevarrius Hayes said in a postgame press conference. He started at center in place of Egbunu.

Florida’s offense flourished under the rim, outscoring Charlotte in paint points 38 to 14.

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Garbage time arrived early as Florida maintained a 44-point lead in the second half. Ten of 11 Gators who played scored.

“We’re pretty deep,” White said at halftime on a television broadcast. “I think our guys understand that when they need a blow, they can ask for one, and the next guy’s waiting.”

Florida received 45 points from its bench, highlighted by 10 from redshirt freshman Keith Stone and seven from freshman guard Eric Hester.

Florida’s next game is its home opener on Wednesday. After a $64.5 million renovation kept the Gators on the road to start the season, they’ll face Little Rock at 7 p.m.

“(We’ve) had a lot of road trips together, and now we’re excited to get back and play in the O’Dome,” Barry said.

“Gator fans that are listening, I don’t know if you’re excited to see us,” White said, “but we’re excited to see you guys.”

Contact Matt Brannon at mbrannon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @MattB_727.

Florida forward Devin Robinson fights for a shot against Florida Gulf Coast forward Antravious Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday Nov. 11, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union via AP)

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