Florida Gators suffer defeat against No. 12 Baylor in NIT Season Tip-Off Championship Game

Florida basketball faced off in an intense match against No, 12 Baylor to open their season, ultimately succumbing to a 95-91 loss on Friday night in Brooklyn in the final of the NIT Season Tip-Off.Florida basketball pushed hard into the second half, though lack of firepower was evident against Baylor.

The Florida Gators (4-2) had to play without their starting center, Micah Handlogten, sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained earlier in the week.

Guard Riley Kugel led the Florida team, contributing 25 points and nine rebounds on Friday. Additionally, forward Tyrese Samuel and guard Zyon Pullin, making his first start of the season, showcased promise with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

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Baylor’s strong performance, shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 56 percent from the 3-point line, was the deciding factor in the game. Florida, on the other hand, struggled with a 30.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Reflecting on the loss, Florida coach Todd Golden mentioned, “I thought our guys played really hard, played really well for a majority of the game. As I examine the box score, even game all the way around with the exception of the 3-point line.”

Here are three significant takeaways from the game:

UF basketball needs to improve defending the 3-point line

Florida was late on some defensive rotations, allowing Baylor to capitalize on open 3-point attempts. Dribble penetration by Baylor’s guards also posed a challenge for UF’s defense.

“We need to limit attempts better,” Golden mentioned. “But once that ball is in the air there is only so much you can do about controlling the outcome, and 56 percent is going to be tough to overcome.”

RayJ Dennis had 24 points and eight assists to lead Baylor (6-0), while Jalen Bridges added 23 points, going 5-for-7 from the 3-point line. Golden expressed, “Bridges was really the one I felt got us today.”

Sophomore UF basketball guard Riley Kugel breaks out of slump

Kugel’s strong performance in the game, going 10-for-20 from the floor and 4-for-6 from 3-point range, marked a significant improvement from his previous games where he struggled to score.

UF basketball showed its lineup versatility by starting four guards

Due to Handlogten’s absence, Florida opted for a four-guard starting lineup, showcasing adaptability and skill amongst the players.

“Our two freshmen didn’t number as well as they’d been going,” Golden said. “These are big moments for them, learning experiences.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators basketball falls to No. 12 Baylor Bears