UAB coach Mike Davis wanted to take on Florida right before conference play - just to show his team what it looks like to be really good.
The 13th-ranked Gators obliged, hitting a season-high 15 3-pointers in a 79-61 win Tuesday night.
''We needed to play a team like this before conference play just to reconfirm all the things we talked about and how to be a good team,'' Davis said. ''To me, this is the best game that we have played so far.''
Quincy Taylor led the Blazers (5-8) with 16 points. Cameron Moore added 15 points. Ovie Soko chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds.
UAB led midway through the first half and was dominating the boards. The Blazers held a 21-13 rebounding advantage at halftime, but Florida coach Billy Donovan challenged his team at the break.
The Gators (12-3) were much more aggressive in the second half. The biggest difference, though, was the 3-point line. Florida made 15 of 27 from behind the arc.
''They were giving up 3s tonight,'' Donovan said. ''They were going under (screens). They were trying to protect the paint and that was one of those games you've got to take what the defense gives you. We go 15 for 27 and almost half our shots were from behind the 3-point line, but that's what they were forcing us to do.
''I thought with the way they were trying to play defense, they were almost daring us with the way they were guarding pick and rolls to shoot 3s, and it was a game where we shot pretty well from behind the line.''
Florida hit four 3s - three of them by Boynton - in a 3-minute span early in the second to push its lead to 21 points.
About the only excitement the rest of the way was a power surge that knocked out lights on both baselines. Donovan and Davis agreed to play through dim conditions in the O'Connell Center.
''Mike said to me, `I'm OK if you want to end the game right now. We can get out of here early,''' Donovan said.
The Blazers made a small run in the less-than-ideal conditions, cutting the lead to 64-55 with 5:01 to play, but then Boynton and Walker hit back-to-back 3s that made it a 15-point game again.
''We just have to continue to get better,'' Davis said. ''Coach Donovan is one of the top five coaches in college basketball. His team and how his guys play is amazing.''
Erving Walker scored 23 points for Florida, and Kenny Boynton added 20.
The win was Florida's final tuneup before beginning Southeastern Conference play Saturday at Tennessee. Donovan feels good about his team, especially if it continues to be balanced inside and out.
Patric Young chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds for the Gators, who won their 14th consecutive home game.
Boynton made 6 of 10 from beyond the arc; Walker hit 7 of 9.
''They went under our guards on the screens,'' Young said. ''We're making 11-something 3s per game. It's insane going under our guards.''
Florida played short-handed for the third time in the last five games. Guard Mike Rosario sat out after spraining an ankle in practice. He also missed two games with a back injury.
''We don't need any one person to score,'' Walker said. ''Everybody collectively has been doing it for this team, so one person having a bad night or off night, someone else can pick up the slack at any time.''
