The Gators were looking for another big win to make their NCAA résumé look better. Instead, they went soft defensively and took yet another loss in a trying season.
Florida had no answers for Arkansas defensively and could not outscore the Razorbacks even with UF’s two big scorers managing 48 points between them.
The Gators, quite simply, could not stop the Hogs.
“We gave up 82 points at home,” said UF coach Mike White. “You can’t win like that.”
And they did not in a game that went back and forth until Arkansas put it away at the end.
Florida kept feeding Colin Castleton and he did his best. But on the other end, the Gators could not get stops against a team that is as hot as any team in the country.
Arkansas has now won 12 of its last 13 games with the only loss coming against Alabama on the road by a point. That was evident with the offensive efficiency the Razorbacks scored, especially down the stretch.
So, three days after beating the No. 2 team in the country on the same floor, Florida’s defense fell apart as much as it has in any game all season.
The Gators are now 17-11 and 7-8 in SEC play and might have to win their remaining three games to get into the NCAA Tournament.
Florida trailed 37-34 at the half but came back to take the lead midway through the second half. But Arkansas was able to score when it needed to and Florida could not answer enough times.
Arkansas had lost 14 straight games in Gainesville, but unlike Auburn on Saturday, that streak ended.
The Razorbacks shot 46% for the game.