1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Takeaways after Florida’s win over Alabama to start SEC play

By Brendan Farrell | Jan. 5, 2020

Florida’s men’s basketball team somehow emerged from its game against Alabama on Saturday with a 104-98 win despite trailing by as much as 21. The Gators overcame a 14-point deficit at the start of the second half to force overtime and eventually win in double overtime to complete the largest second-half comeback in program history.

SPORTS

“It’s on us now”: The Light and Legacy of Edward Aschoff

By Payton Titus | Jan. 5, 2020

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, everyone recognizes the three Heisman statues poised in front of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at UF.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators erase 21-point deficit, win double OT thriller

By Evan Lepak | Jan. 4, 2020

Florida trailed 83-81 with just under 30 seconds to play.

NEWS

Are you a grammar and spelling nerd? Apply to be an Alligator copy editor.

Jan. 4, 2020

This is the application for Spring 2020 Copy Desk at The Alligator. Please answer all questions to the best of your ability.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Women tack on 3 more wins to reach 10-0 on the season

By Dylan O'Shea | Jan. 4, 2020

The No. 7 UF women’s swimming and diving team ended winter break early to compete in a home quad-meet at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Friday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators land former five-star running back Lingard via transfer portal

By Kyle Wood | Jan. 3, 2020

Dan Mullen and the Gators addressed a gaping hole in the 2020 recruiting cycle Friday afternoon.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Mississippi State routs Florida in SEC opener

By Graham Marsh | Jan. 2, 2020

Florida guard Lavender Briggs had the look.

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, file photo, Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, attends an annual rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, in Tehran, Iran. Iraqi TV and three Iraqi officials said Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, that Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, has been killed in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

NEWS

US kills Iran's most powerful general in Baghdad strike

By The Associated Press | Jan. 2, 2020

BAGHDAD (AP) — The United States killed Iran's top general and the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad's international airport Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the region.

Law enforcement officers interview witnesses in front of Oaks Mall Thursday night after reports of a robbery in front of Pearle Vision, an eye care store located inside the mall.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Authorities respond to reports of robbery at Oaks Mall

By Alex DeLuca | Jan. 2, 2020

The robbery was unarmed and nobody was injured.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF took another step in the right direction in 2019

By Sam Campisano | Dec. 30, 2019

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- I asked UF running back Lamical Perine if this Florida squad was a playoff team at media day in July. His response?

Lamical Perine had a season-high 138 yards rushing in the Orange Bowl.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators hold off Virginia to win Orange Bowl

By Tyler Nettuno | Dec. 30, 2019

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lamical Perine didn’t waste much time in the final outing of his collegiate career.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Stagnant Florida run game has breakthrough in Orange Bowl

By Dylan Rudolph | Dec. 30, 2019

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Throughout the 2019 season, Florida struggled to run the ball.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Orange Bowl primer: Florida vs. Virginia

By Kyle Wood | Dec. 30, 2019

The Gators put their undefeated Orange Bowl record on the line tonight against Virginia. No. 9 UF can secure its first 11-win season since 2012 with a win. No. 24 Virginia would finish with 10 wins for the first time since 1989 and for just the second time in program history with a win.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida squeaks past Davidson for ninth win of the season

By Bryan Matamoros | Dec. 29, 2019

The charity stripe has not been kind to the Florida women’s basketball team throughout the first half of the regular season.

SPORTS

Five of the best UF sports moments of the decade

By Brendan Farrell and Dylan O'Shea | Dec. 29, 2019

With the decade coming to a close, five of our writers picked out their favorite UF sports moments of the decade across a handful of sports. Here are our selections:

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators explode offensively in SEC tuneup game against Long Beach State

By Brendan Farrell | Dec. 28, 2019

There were a few expectations for the Gators ahead of their final non-conference game before SEC play starts next weekend.

SPORTS

UF alumnus and ESPN reporter Edward Aschoff dies at 34

Dec. 26, 2019

Edward Aschoff, an ESPN college football reporter and UF alumnus, has died at 34.

Kerry Blackshear Jr. did most of his damage at the free throw line in the loss.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida falls to Utah State in Orange Bowl Basketball Classic

By Evan Lepak | Dec. 21, 2019

UF forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. stepped up to the free-throw line looking to give his team the lead.

Florida guard Lavender Briggs led the team in scoring against Wake Forest with 23 points.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators fall to Wake Forest in West Palm Beach Invitational

By Graham Marsh | Dec. 21, 2019

When Florida’s women’s basketball team faced Wake Forest in the second round of the West Palm Beach Invitational, its top-four scorers: guards Lavender Briggs, Kiara Smith and Kristina Moore as well as forward Zada Williams got plenty of buckets. And they scored at an efficient pace -- all four combined to shoot 57 percent from the field.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida holds on to beat Xavier in West Palm Beach Invitational

By Bryan Matamoros | Dec. 20, 2019

Florida’s women’s basketball team secured just eight wins in the 2018-19 campaign, with its final one coming in the 30th game of the season.

El Caimán