Breakdown: Florida stuns No. 11 West Virginia with physical road victory

A phenomenal defensive game catalyzed UF’s second ranked win of the season, defeating West Virginia on the road in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Florida earned its second ranked win of the season against No. 11 West Virginia on Saturday in impressive fashion. The Gators survived a back-and-forth slugfest that featured 45 total personal fouls, shocking the Mountaineers 85-80 on their home court.

For UF (10-4), the win represents one of the biggest of the Mike White era. The matchup with WVU (11-5) was not an advantageous one for the Gators, as its size and physical style of play contrasted with Florida’s athletic, guard-oriented style.

But UF’s frontcourt was up for the challenge, and now the Gators move into the back half of their SEC slate with a huge win bolstering their NCAA Tournament resume.

Here are three takeaways from the big victory.