A sloppy, bruising affair in Gainesville should all but close the door on Ole Miss' tournament hopes for 2016.
Ole Miss' hoopsters didn't quite take one on the chin in Gainesville, but Tuesday's 77-72 loss to Mike White's Florida Gators stings by no means less than January's bedwetting at The Pavilion. This season's second meeting between the Rebels and Reptiles held a glimmer of promise for Andy Kennedy and company, insofar as Sebastian Saiz returned to roundball active duty following a six-game hiatus.
After trading jabs through the opening three-or-so minutes, the night's proceedings remained locked at seven, then nine a piece until Florida dumped off a 13-3 run in the period's middle stretch for a 22-12 advantage.