JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Chris Chiozza scored 16 points, Justin Leon added 13 and No. 24 Florida handled North Florida 91-60 on Thursday night.
It was the Gators' first game as a ranked team during coach Mike White's two seasons in Gainesville.
Dallas Moore tried to wreck it. North Florida's all-time leading scorer finished with 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting. He kept the Ospreys (3-6) in the game early, but couldn't keep pace with Florida's inside-out attack.
The Gators pounded the ball inside (38 points in the paint), scored 38 points off turnovers and made 9 of 19 shots from 3-point range. It looked a lot like the last time these teams played. Florida hit 16 3s and beat North Florida 97-68 in the first round of the NIT in March.
White has a deeper and more talented team in his second season, and the Gators showed they could handle a little success. The entered The Associated Press' Top 25 Monday for the first time since November 2014.
