Tyree Appleby scored 17 points, including the two decisive free throws with 7.9 seconds left, as Florida rallied for a 66-65 victory over Missouri in a Southeastern Conference game Wednesday in Columbia, Mo.
Myreon Jones led the Gators (14-8, 4-5) with 18 points, and Anthony Duruji scored 14 and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. 12.
Florida hit just 6-of-20 shots from the floor in the second half but made 19-of-21 free-throw attempts and erased a nine-point deficit in the final 8:04.
The Tigers (8-13, 2-6) had three scorers in doubles figures, led by Ronnie DeGray III with 13 points.
Florida played without big men Colin Castleton (shoulder injury) and Jason Jitoboh (eye surgery), while Missouri was missing guard Javon Pickett (facial injury).
The Gators knocked down four early 3-pointers — two by Jones, two by Fleming — while bolting to a 14-6 lead. After Missouri cut the Florida lead to two points, the Gators answered with consecutive 3-pointers by Jones to forge a 23-15 lead.
The Tigers outscored the Gators 16-10 for the rest of the half to cut their deficit to 33-31. Kaleb Brown and Jarron Coleman fueled that rally with 3-point jumpers.
Missouri opened the second half with an 8-4 surge to take its first lead of the game at 39-37. DaJuan Gordon rallied the Tigers with back-to-back 3-point shots.
The Gators regained the lead at 40-39, but the Tigers responded with a 13-3 run to move ahead 52-43 with 8:04 to play. The key shot was Coleman’s deep 3-pointer as the shot clock expired.
Florida battled back to get within one point on six occasions. After Coleman missed the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity with 21 seconds left, Appleby made his free throws to put Florida up 66-65.
Coleman missed an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer.
–Field Level Media
