Will Richard, Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel talk ‘super big’ win vs. MSU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Some clutch free throw shooting, a season-low seven turnovers and Will Richard‘s “best game as a Gator” propelled Florida to a 79-70 win over Mississippi State on Wednesday night.

Richard’s season-high 23 points paced the Gators and team-leading nine rebounds matched his most at UF. Tyrese Samuel added 12 points and eight boards.

Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin each scored 15 points, while Pullin committed zero turnovers in 35 minutes of action handling the ball.

Here’s what Richard, Pullin and Samuel had to say after the game.

Will Richard

On his 23-point performance:

Richard: “I thought it was good. I just took what the defense gave me. I don’t think I forced anything, just trying to find myself in the right spots. I know [Pullin] found me in the right spots. I’m just trying to find ways to get open and just get shots and get in a rhythm.”

On if he was surprised UF had so many 3-point opportunities:

Richard: “I mean, we knew how they played. We knew they were going to try to play physical and stuff like that. For us, we were just trying to make sure that doesn’t change what we do on offense, and they gave us some looks and we took them.”

Zyon Pullin

On how difficult Florida is to beat when Richard’s on:

Pullin: “I think we’re super tough. I thought he did a great job being aggressive to start the game and I think when he’s going, we’re just a better team.”

On the importance of this contest:

Pullin: “I think it was super big. You know, we’re trying to go on a run and string some wins together. It’s tough to win the SEC and we need to take every game we can.”

On 3-point defense improvement:

Pullin: “I think it’s just been a huge emphasis in practice, limiting the 3s, getting out on the closeouts and what we’re kind of willing to live with. I think it’s something we’re getting better at and I think it’ll be big down the stretch.”

On defensive improvement in general:

Pullin: “Just keep competing, that’s the biggest thing around here, keep competing on the defensive end and the offense will kind of take care of itself.”

Tyrese Samuel

On allowing the game to get tight toward the end:

Samuel: “I think we were just too relaxed. I think if we stayed aggressive, it would have been a different outcome, I think but we were just a little too relaxed and I think we have to be better that way at the end of the game, especially when we have a 17-point lead.”

On how difficult Florida is to beat when Richard’s on:

Samuel: “He gave us that energy that we needed with the offensive rebounds he was getting. It just kind of gave us life. We need that from him every game.”

On UF’s lack of rebounding to start the game:

Samuel: “I think their physicality kind of shocked us a little bit but once we got in a groove we was alright.”

On Walter Clayton Jr. playing through a bruised wrist:

Samuel: “When we saw him go down, I was just hoping it wasn’t anything too bad. But when he came out, he stayed aggressive and made some shots at the end. He hurt his hand so I’m happy for him.”

On making eight straight free throws to end the game:

Samuel: “Shows that we’ve been working on it.”

On Florida’s run to end the first half with a nine-point lead:

Samuel: “It was big. It gave us a lot of confidence going into the second half. I think that dunk and the steal (Richard) had, it gave us an extra boost and we went into halftime knowing that we had come back out and punch them.”

On the emphasis at halftime:

Samuel: “Just getting stops in the second half. Our offense is going to take care of itself. We play really fast and in transition. As long as we get clean rebounds, I think we’ll be OK.”