Senior forward Chandler Parsons (Casselberry, Fla.) recorded the first Florida double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds to lift the Gators past Morehead State, 61-55, Sunday afternoon at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Junior Erving Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also scored in double figures for the Gators with a team-high 16 points and dished out seven assists. Sophomore Kenny Boynton (Pompano Beach, Fla.) chipped in 10 points.
In the first half, Morehead State made its first two shots on Kenneth Faried dunks, but the Gators held the Eagles to 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) shooting for the remainder of the half. After his first two buckets, Faried was held to 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) shooting for the remainder of the first half.
After trailing 6-2, Florida forced seven Morehead State misses and three turnovers. The Gators scored 12 unanswered points to take a 14-6 lead that they never relinquished.
The Orange and Blue held the Eagles to 20.0 percent shooting from the arc (4-of-20) and outscored its bench 11-3.
Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year Faried led Morehead State with a game-best 20 points (10-of-17) and 18 rebounds, along with two assists, two blocks and two steals. UF limited Morehead State’s second and third-leading scorers Demonte Harper and Terrance Hill to seven and six points, respectively.
