College Basketball

Finney-Smith helps Florida beat Missouri 82-72

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:04 p.m. ET

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Dorian Finney-Smith scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds as Florida defeated Missouri 82-72 on Saturday.

Chris Chiozza added 17 points, eight assists and a season-high seven rebounds as the Gators spoiled Missouri's senior night, which paid tribute to the team's lone senior, forward Ryan Rosburg. Rosburg finished with 11 points and four rebounds, marking his eighth double-digit scoring performance in the last nine games.

Florida (18-13, 9-9) opened the game on a 21-6 run and maintained a double-digit lead throughout much of the game, enjoying a 44-28 halftime lead.

Chiozza scored Florida's first eight points of the second half, including a 3-pointer that spurred a 13-6 run, giving the Gators a 21-point lead, their largest of the night. Chiozza was 5 of 8 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, despite making his first field goal with 1:40 seconds remaining in the first half.

Namon Wright led the Tigers (10-21, 3-15) with 19 points. Terrence Phillips had 10 points, 10 boards and seven assists.

Phillips was assessed a technical foul at the 14:05 mark for arguing a shooting foul called against Russell Woods, resulting in four free-throw attempts for the Gators. Devin Robinson sank both attempts from the initial foul by Woods and Kevarrius Hayes made 1 of 2 free-throws as a result of Phillips' technical. Robinson finished with 11 points and five rebounds.

Missouri found new life following Phillips' technical, using a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 11 points with under 10 minutes to play. Florida slowed its tempo following the Tigers' run, trading baskets as they whittled the clock. But Missouri continued to battle, using a late 10-0 run to cut the deficit to seven points with 1:03 seconds remaining. KeVaughn Allen made all four of his free-throw attempts and Kasey Hill made 1 of 2 in the final minute. Allen finished with 13 points and Hill added nine.

Despite the loss, Missouri outrebounded Florida 40-37 and shot 45 percent from the field to the Gators' 43 percent. Florida accounted for the scoring difference by attacking the basket, shooting 25 of 33 from the free-throw line, while Missouri was 11 of 20 at the line.

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TIP-INS

Florida: Finney-Smith has posted at least 20 points and eight rebounds in five games this season, the most by a Gator since Marreese Speights did so seven times during the 2007-08 season. ...John Egbunu has dunked 67 times this season, joining Speights and Joakim Noah as the only players in school history with at least 60 dunks in a single season. ...Florida's strength of schedule ranks sixth in the NCAA RPI.

Missouri: Phillips had four assists in an 80-71 loss at LSU March 1, becoming the eighth player in school history to record 100 assists in their freshman campaign. ...Rosburg made his 70th career start in his 127th game for Missouri. ...K.J. Walton made his seventh career start and his first since a 94-61 home loss to Arkansas Jan. 12. Walton had seven points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

UP NEXT

Florida: The eighth-seeded Gators face No. 9-seed Arkansas in SEC tournament on Thursday.

Missouri: 2016-17 season.

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