Colin Castleton and Myreon Jones each scored a game-high 18 points and Tyree Appleby added 14 as the Florida Gators coasted to a season-opening 74-61 win over visiting Elon on Tuesday night in Gainesville, Fla.
The Gators led by 23 points at halftime and by as many as 28 points in the second half en route to an easy victory. The Phoenix were led by Michael Graham’s 16 points and nine rebounds, with teammate Hunter McIntosh adding 15 points.
Jones shot 6-for-13 from the floor, including an impressive 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, with Castleton shooting 7-for-11 from the field. Appleby went 3-for-6 from the field, with all three of his made baskets 3-pointers. Anthony Duruji scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, and Brandon McKissic added four points.
The Gators’ starters combined for 64 of the team’s 74 points.
The Gators shot 42.4 percent (25-for-59) from the field and outrebounded the Phoenix 43-34. However, Florida struggled mightily at the free-throw line, making just 16 of 29 attempts (55.2 percent).
Elon shot 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the field, including 5-for-20 on 3-point attempts.
Leading 47-24 at intermission, the Gators opened the second half on a 10-5 run capped by Appleby’s 3-pointer with 17 minutes remaining that gave them their largest lead of the game at 57-29.
The Gators put the game away during a first half in which they shot 16-for-31 and scored 16 points off nine Elon turnovers. Castleton scored 17 first-half points by going 7-for-9 from the field, while Appleby scored 11 points on perfect shooting, making both of his 3-point shots and all five of his free-throw attempts.
Elon shot just 34.6 percent (9-for-26) from the field in the first half, which included making just three of 11 shots from beyond the arc.
–Field Level Media
