Cold-shooting Georgia falls at Florida, 70-48

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the worst offensive team in the Southeastern Conference, Georgia can't afford to miss easy shots.

Yet, that's exactly what the Bulldogs did at No. 19 Florida on Tuesday night.

Georgia missed a bunch early and nearly everything from the free throw line in a 70-48 loss to the Gators that dropped them to 0-2 in conference play.

"A lot of easy baskets early, which helped dig our hole," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "We certainly have to credit Florida — that's a very good basketball team — but we had some chances early and we couldn't compete."

Nemanja Djurisic led Georgia with 14 points. Gerald Robinson Jr. added eight points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Bulldogs (9-7) were dominated in nearly every aspect. They missed eight of their first nine shots, falling behind by double digits early, and did little to get back in the game.

Georgia's biggest problem was at the free throw line, where the Bulldogs went 1 for 9.

"We didn't make free throws," Fox said. "If you make your free throws, you can still put yourself in a position where you're down single digits and can make some plays. And we just didn't make any of the easy plays."

Bradley Beal and Kenny Boynton scored 17 points apiece for the Gators (13-4, 1-1), who won their 15th in a row at home.

Beal was 4 of 6 from 3-point range, making more shots from behind the arc than he did in the last four games combined, and added 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

"It felt good," Beal said. "I figured it was going to come sooner or later. I just played my game. I really didn't try to focus and get too involved in myself. Just let the game come to me."

Georgia lost to Florida for the 15th time in the last 17 meetings. The Bulldogs have dropped 10 in a row in Gainesville.

This one was over early, thanks to Florida's fast start.

The Gators came out flat in recent losses at Rutgers and Tennessee. They were downright dreadful in a 67-56 loss at the Volunteers to open conference play Saturday. They scored a season low and allowed the Vols to shoot 51 percent from the field.

Coach Billy Donovan responded by putting his team through two grueling practices Sunday, workouts that included covers on both rims that forced players to focus on rebounding, boxing out and playing defense.

"I would have been really disappointed if we would have come out and played flat again here today," Donovan said.

The payoff came on the court. The Bulldogs shot 36.4 percent from the floor.

The Gators made 12 of their first 22 shots, got every loose ball and opened up a 20-point lead late in the first half.

Georgia trailed 56-35 midway through the second half, but used an 8-0 run to slice into the deficit. Donovan pleaded with his team to guard the 3-point line, hoping to nix the easiest means to making a comeback.

That caused some angst for Donovan, who ripped his team for giving up too many offensive rebounds (14) and too many open looks from behind the arc. Georgia finished 7 of 18 from 3-point range. Nonetheless, Florida pulled away down the stretch.

"I feel like we should have held them under 30 (points)," said Florida center Patric Young, who had eight points and 10 boards. "If you take away the offensive rebounds, take away the open 3s and the second-chance points, and then it's a completely different game."