Florida managed to avoid a season sweep against Kentucky on Saturday, scoring a 71-67 win at Rupp Arena to end a five-game losing streak in the rivalry. The Gators (13-6, 9-5 SEC) managed to overcome a one-point halftime deficit against the Wildcats (8-14, 7-8 SEC) in a back-and-forth game that featured 14 lead changes and nine ties.
Despite a strong offensive performance led by Tre Mann, sloppiness in the second half allowed UK to keep it close despite its own mistakes. Kentucky managed to grab the lead with under four minutes to play, but the Gators retook it and made their free throws down the stretch to close out the win.
Florida earned its fourth Quadrant 1 win of the season, making its total record in those contests 4-3.
The Gators may be all but a guarantee to make the NCAA Tournament at this point, but their seed is still very much in question. This victory could go a long way in helping secure a more beneficial position come March. With that in mind, here are three takeaways from the game.