Florida Cruises Past UMKC, 86-65, In First-Ever Gator Jam

No. 17/18 Florida (5-1) clinched its fifth win of the season with a 86-65 victory over the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos (3-5) at Amway Arena in Orlando as part of Sunday�s Florida Hospital Gator Jam, an Florida Citrus Sports event. In the first meeting between the two schools, sophomore forward Alex Tyus (St. Louis, Mo.) led the charge for UF with a career-high 25 points, and a season-high eight rebounds as the Gators moved to 31-3 overall in the month of November.

Tyus was named Florida Hospital Gator Jam Player of the Game.

Three Florida players scored in double-digits, including Tyus. Sophomore forward Chandler Parsons (Casselberry, Fla.) chipped in a season-high 17 points, while freshman Erving Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the pack of newcomers, dishing out nine assists and racking up a career-tying 13 points.

Led by 11 first half points and four rebounds from Tyus, the Gators entered the locker room ahead, 40-32, at the half. The Gators jumped out of the gates to begin the second period, never looking back or surrendering the lead.

Tyus hit 10-of-13 from the field, while hitting 5-of-7 from the charity stripe and blocking a season-high two UMKC shots. Parsons was a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc, his three treys a season high.

UF junior Dan Werner (Middletown, N.J.) crashed the boards for six rebounds in the win, while adding nine points to the final margin. Sophomore guard Nick Calathes (Casselberry, Fla.) contributed nine points and six assists.

The Gators out-rebounded the Kangaroos 35-31 and shot 55.7 percent from the field compared to UMKC�s 42.2 field-goal percentage. Florida overwhelmingly hit 80 percent of its free throws, while holding UMKC to just 37.5 percent.

Kangaroo senior forward Dane Brumagin led UMKC in scoring, with 16 points, while Roos� forward Latreze Mushatt led with eight boards.

Florida will next take to the hardwood Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. when it hosts in-state rival FAMU at the O�Connell Center. The game will be broadcast by Sun Sports.