The net didn’t move.
KeVaughn Allen’s second three-pointer was so on target that no nylon rippled as the ball slipped through the hoop.
And with the fans in a frenzy, a fuming Mike White stomped, yelled and clapped at his players to get back on defense. UF’s coach wasn’t satisfied. After all, he only had a 29-point lead.
“He doesn’t let up,” UF center John Egbunu said. “He doesn’t want us to get comfortable.”
No. 24 Florida (17-5, 7-2 SEC) eased its way to a 93-54 win over outmatched Missouri (5-16, 0-9) on Thursday in the O’Connell Center.
Florida’s offense started with Chris Chiozza, who earned UF’s fourth triple-double in school history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
White said by the second half, the whole team was trying to help Chiozza get his last assist.
“I first heard it from Chris,” White said. “He’s sitting by me, and he said, ‘Coach, you gotta put me back in. I’m gonna get a triple double.’ I said, ‘No you’re not, come on.’”
Despite White’s disbelief, Chiozza got back in and recorded UF’s first triple double since 2009.
Gators guard Canyon Barry added a game-high 17 points on offense and extended his unconventional underhanded free-throw streak to 27.
And while the Gators shot 45.5 percent from the field, their defense turned in one of its best performances of the season.
Florida’s energy and length muzzled Missouri’s offense, holding the Tigers to 30.2 percent from the field, their second-worst shooting night of the season.
UF’s size advantage wasn’t subtle.
The 6-foot-11 Egbunu was the biggest player on the floor most of the game, and he was one of five Gators to haul in multiple offensive rebounds.
“We were sending (our) three, four and five to the glass every time, so we just know one of us is always gonna get it,” Egbunu said.
As a team, Florida won the battle on the boards 56 to 32, including 19 points on 18 offensive boards.
Florida found ways to score everywhere it looked. Putbacks, free throws and three-pointers were falling against a Tigers defense that has yet to beat an SEC team.
UF began the game with an 18-3 run, and Missouri never came within single digits.
Missouri coach Kim Anderson said Florida outworked the Tigers from the start of the game.
“We didn’t even jump on the tip,” Anderson said. “So I should’ve known then.”
Devin Robinson also chipped in 9 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.
While all eyes are on Florida’s matchup with No. 8 Kentucky on Saturday, Mike White made it clear that UF wouldn’t overlook the Tigers on Thursday.
But Robinson found out that it’s hard not to overlook a team when you’re flying 10 feet in the air, dunking an alley oop over its crumbling defense.
Robinson called the two-handed slam his best dunk of the year, but UF has to get ready for a quick turnaround before it hosts Kentucky in the O’Connell Center.
“(On Saturday), we’re gonna have to fight through all the bumps and bruises that we got tonight,” Robinson said. “That’s not just any team.”
Contact Matt Brannon at mbrannon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @MattB_727.
UF guard Chris Chiozza drives the lane during Florida's 93-54 win over Missouri on Feb. 2, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.
93-54
