Gators get their ‘mojo back’ in SEC Tournament win over Georgia

Florida battled back from a second-half deficit in Thursday’s 85-80 win over Georgia, using a 12-2 run to take a 51-48 lead with 11:50 left in the game and never trailing again. After losing the rebounding battle in the first half, the Gators outrebounded UGA 32-13 after the break and 52-36 for the game.

Tyrese Samuel posted a career-high 15 rebounds to go with 17 points to record his 11th double-double of the season, most by a Gator since Al Horford’s 16 in 2006-07. Samuel posted a double-double in the second half alone, recording 14 points and 10 boards in the final 20 minutes.

Walter Clayton Jr. scored a team-high 22 points, his 13th 20-point game this year. Here’s everything Clayton and Samuel said after Florida defeated the Bulldogs for the third time this season and 11th consecutive game, matching the longest winning streak in series history (2004-09).

Tyrese Samuel

On Golden harping on rebounding at halftime:

Samuel: “Yeah, most definitely. Rebounding was the emphasis this week. We worked on it a lot. I think, like, coming into the second half, it was really important ’cause especially for the bigs, nothing was really falling for us close to the rim. I feel like us rebounding helped us get our mojo back. It was key.”

On the important of scoring in the paint:

Samuel: “It was important. Just getting the easy lay ins. In the beginning we weren’t making ’em. Taking our time, playing off of two, shot faking, game foul, getting and-ones, whether it was Will, me, Condo, even the guards as well. It was really important staying poised and making these layups at the end of the second half.”

On his struggles at the free throw line:

Samuel: “To be honest, I wasn’t even thinking about it all. I missed already. At this point I just got to go over there and make ’em. That was my mindset the whole time. Just kind of like slow down. In the second half, just slow down and take your time, hopefully they’ll fall — today at least.”

On beating UGA for the third time this year:

Samuel: “Beating a team three times in a row is really hard. We have to earn it. They’re trying to win games, too, like how we are. Just got to come out and play harder. Came out with the outcome today.”

Walter Clayton Jr.

On the message at halftime:

Clayton: “Coach made it very clear we was losing on the rebounding front. Obviously was fouling a lot. Defend without fouling was the big thing, getting back on the boards. I think we did a good job of that the second half — rebounding.”

On his steal and and-one play:

Clayton: “He just threw the ball away, threw it to me. I grabbed it, took off. Fortunately, the ref called a foul.”

On his mindset when Zyon Pullin fouled out:

Clayton: “I think all around we just got a great team. I’ve always had a mindset of just next man up. Things happen, you got to be able to play through them. Obviously ZP going out, that’s a big part of our team, as far as what he does, facilitating the ball, getting us shots. So just trying to put myself in his shoes a little bit, run the team, put the ball in the basket, get some good looks, not turn it over.”

On getting a win after the Vanderbilt loss:

Clayton: “I think it’s very important. I was telling the guys today, it’s very tough to beat a team three times in a row. It don’t matter who it is. Beating a team three times is tough. I was telling them we got to go out there and be the tougher team. I definitely think it was very important.”