FINAL: Florida Atlantic 76, Florida 72

FLORIDA ATLANTIC 76, FLORIDA 74

WHAT HAPPENED: Guards Johnell Davis and Michael Forrest combined for 38 points and the Owls erased a nine-point second-half deficit by shooting 50 percent out of the locker room, building a 14-point lead and holding off the Gators and handing Todd Golden his first loss as UF’s coach Monday night at Exactech Arena. FAU, out of Conference USA and coached by former UF assistant Dusty May, made 17 of its 34 shots in the second half, but also shredded UF from the 3-point line all night long by making 13 of 24 long ones (54.2 percent). The outcome played out despite another tremendous performance by UF fifth-year forward Colin Castleton, who finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. The Gators used a red-hot start to the second half, making six of their first seven shots, to take a 51-41 lead with just under 15 minutes left, but the Owls got hotter from there and the Gators fell into a cold spell. Florida Atlantic made 12 of its next 20 shots, including four 3s, and surged ahead 71-57 with five minutes left. Florida, though, scored 10 unanswered, with back-to-back 3s by Kowacie Reeves (11 points), to draw within four, 71-67, but then Martin Alijah dropped a 3 — FAU’s 13th of the game — to take the margin back to seven with 1:35 to go. And while UF managed to make it a one-possession game, the last a two-point margin, 76-74 with 13.2 seconds left, the Gators couldn’t get a foul and couldn’t get another possession the rest of the way. Davis finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Forrest, who missed FAU’s first two games due to academic issues, had 20 points. The duo was 7-for-7 from the 3-point line in the first half, setting the tone for the night. Florida, which also got 14 points each from point guard Kyle Lofton (plus 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and shooting guard Will Richard (7 rebounds), hit just 38.2 percent for the game, despite going 8-for-17 from deep (.471). 

WHAT IT MEANS: It’ll look like a bad loss (Florida’s first against an in-state, non-Power 5 opponent since falling in overtime Dec. 20, 2010 at home against Jacksonville), but the Owls came in as a Top 100 KenPom.com team that returned all five starters from a squad that went 19-15 last season and is expected to contend for a Conference USA title. We’ll see how bad it looks on the resume a few months from now. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: May,…