Dusty Hannahs knew the three-pointer was good as soon as the ball left his hands.
With 10 seconds left in the game, Hannahs heaved a three from well beyond the ark that found the bottom of the net.
But Arkansas’ sophomore guard slumped his shoulders and stared down at the court in disappointment as he shuffled back to the bench.
Florida was too good tonight.
Embracing a road-warrior mentality, the No. 25 Gators marched into a raucous Bud Walton Arena and made it their own during an 81-72 win over the Razorbacks on Thursday night in the commencement of Southeastern Conference play.
KeVaughn Allen and Devin Robinson led Florida into the fray.
Allen, a native of Little Rock and former Arkansas recruit, was booed without mercy the entire night.
It didn’t bother him one bit.
The sophomore guard felt a spark in his home state, igniting for 21 points, including five threes.
Robinson was equally impressive. The junior forward finished the game with 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
“It was a tough game going back and forth,” Robinson said. “We had to lock in on defense and just do the things we do every day. Just do your job, be in position, talk and just play hard.”
After a sluggish start, Florida (10-3, 1-0 SEC) closed the game strong, shooting 45 percent from the field and connecting on nine of its 26 three-pointers. The Razorbacks (11-2, 0-1 SEC), on the other hand, shot just 41 percent.
“It was an electric environment. This is a very tough place to place year in and year out,” UF coach Mike White said of Bud Walton Arena. “I thought we played with a lot of poise through some of the Arkansas runs when the decibel level got really high.”
The first half began as a back-and-forth affair that included five lead changes, and the hot shooting of Arkansas guard Daryl Macon was the source of the problem. Macon hit three-straight threes, scored 12 points and left the Gators’ defense scrambling for answers early on. However, the Razorbacks managed to convert just one field goal in the final six minutes of the half. Twelve second-chance points, 12 points off turnovers and nine offensive rebounds helped propel Florida to a 44-35 lead heading into the locker room.
The Gators weren’t as efficient when they retook the court.
An Anton Beard three cut Florida’s lead to four just over a minute into the second half, but solid efforts from senior guard Kasey Hill and sophomore forward Kevarrius Hayes helped seal the deal.
Hill contributed 10 points and six assists, and Hayes tallied 10 points, six rebounds and a block.
On the night, Florida was energetic, snagging 16 offensive rebounds, snatching six steals and forcing 13 turnovers. The Gators, spearheaded by the return of 6-foot-11 center John Egbunu, also held Arkansas’ All-SEC forward, Moses Kingsley, to just 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
“I thought we took a step in the right direction in terms of maturity,” White said. “Poise, maturity, decisions. All pretty good for us tonight.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Contact Ray Boone at rboone@alligator.org or follow him on Twitter @rboone1994
KeVaughn Allen dunks during Florida's 94-71 win over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock at the O'Connell Center on Dec. 21, 2016.
