Gators and ‘Roos Make Way to Orlando for this Sunday’s Showdown

The city of Orlando will host its first University of Florida basketball game since 1997 this Sunday as the Gators take on the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos at Amway Arena.

Tipoff for the game televised by SunSports is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Florida (4-1) comes to Orlando after splitting a pair of games in the CBE Classic at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Gators (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 17 AP) fell to Syracuse on Monday, 89-84, before defeating Washington, 86-84.

Tickets remain available in all price levels. Prices for Florida Hospital Gator Jam are as follows: Lower Level (Sidelines), $75, 46 and $31; Lower Level (Corners/End Zone), $15; and Upper Level (all), $10.

For ticket information or to purchase tickets, call 407.423.2476 or go to www.Ticketmaster.com.

Priority seating is available for members of Florida Citrus Sports as are advanced ticket sales.

For information on joining, visit FCSports.com.

In its loss to Syracuse � which is undefeated and handed defending national champion Kansas its first loss the following night � the Gators got a career-high 24 points from sophomore Alex Tyus but were unable to overcome an early second half run by the Orangemen.

In last night�s victory over the Huskies, the young Florida team took a lead just before half and held on in the closing minutes.

Orlando-area product Nick Calathes scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half to help the Gators to the consolation game victory.

UMKC (2-4) takes on Florida Gulf Coast tonight in Fort Myers before making its way north.

After opening the season with a pair of losses (one to Kansas), the �Roos have gone 2-2 since with an impressive 73-61 win over Bradley thrown into the mix.

In the win over the Braves, senior Dane Brumagin became the ninth 1,000-point scorer in school history.

As stated, this weekend�s game will mark the first appearance for Florida�s men�s basketball team in Orlando since 1997. The Gators have played 11 games all-time in The City Beautiful, with every contest coming between 1989 and 1997 and also being neutral site games (UF has never played UCF in Orlando).

Notably, the game will also include Orlando-area natives — Calathes and Chandler Parsons � who led Lake Howell High School to the Florida 5A state championship en route to being named to McDonalds and Parade All-American teams as seniors in 2006-07.

Gates open at Noon. Parking is available outside the arena for $10 with lots opening at 8:00 a.m. on game day.