Florida Gators @ North Florida Ospreys
Florida hits 16 3s to cruise to NIT 2nd round
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Dorian Finney-Smith had 15 points, nine rebounds and four steals, and Florida built a 22-point halftime lead to cruise past North Florida 97-68 on Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the NIT.
John Egbunu capped Florida's big first half with his 68th dunk of the season to set a program single-season record.
Florida made 12 of 19 3-pointers in the first half to help build a 57-25 lead. Finney-Smith, KeVaughn Allen and Kasey Hill each scored 12 in the half and the trio combined for 8 of 13 from 3-point range.
North Florida, the nation's top 3-point shooting team with 402 made entering the game, was just 4 of 15 in the first half.
The Ospreys hit five 3s in the opening five minutes of the second half but still trailed by 26.
All five starters for Florida (20-14) scored in double figures. Egbunu finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but Florida coach Mike White announced after the game that Egbunu will have season-ending thumb surgery on Thursday.
Egbunu tore a ligament in his thumb during practice last week, but played three games before opting for surgery.
Dallas Moore had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists for North Florida (22-12).
The game was played at North Florida because of a $65 million renovation to Florida's O'Connell Center.
Game Information
Jacksonville, FL
Referee:Jerry Heater
Referee:Chuck Jones
Referee:A.J. Desai
2025-26 Standings
| Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 16-2 | - | 27-8 |
| Arkansas | 13-5 | 3 | 28-9 |
| Alabama | 13-5 | 3 | 25-10 |
| Vanderbilt | 11-7 | 5 | 27-9 |
| Tennessee | 11-7 | 5 | 25-12 |
| Texas A&M | 11-7 | 5 | 22-12 |
| Georgia | 10-8 | 6 | 22-11 |
| Kentucky | 10-8 | 6 | 22-14 |
| Missouri | 10-8 | 6 | 20-13 |
| Texas | 9-9 | 7 | 21-15 |
| Auburn | 7-11 | 9 | 22-16 |
| Oklahoma | 7-11 | 9 | 21-16 |
| Mississippi State | 5-13 | 11 | 13-19 |
| Ole Miss | 4-14 | 12 | 15-20 |
| South Carolina | 4-14 | 12 | 13-19 |
| LSU | 3-15 | 13 | 15-17 |
| Atlantic Sun ConferenceAtlantic Sun Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay | 15-3 | - | 22-9 |
| Central Arkansas | 15-3 | - | 22-12 |
| Queens University | 13-5 | 2 | 21-14 |
| Lipscomb | 12-6 | 3 | 19-13 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 8-10 | 7 | 16-18 |
| West Georgia | 8-10 | 7 | 15-17 |
| Bellarmine | 7-11 | 8 | 13-19 |
| Jacksonville | 7-11 | 8 | 12-20 |
| Stetson | 7-11 | 8 | 12-21 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 7-11 | 8 | 11-21 |
| North Florida | 5-13 | 10 | 7-25 |
| North Alabama | 4-14 | 11 | 9-21 |
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