Box Score Matt Bonner scored 18 points and Udonis Haslem added 17 as the No. 3-ranked Gators broke open a 14-point halftime lead into a 103-49 victory over High Point. The Gators (8-1) had four players in double figures, and used their height, size, and quickness to muscle their way past the Panthers (3-7), who were playing their second consecutive road game against a Top-25 foe.
High Point hung with the Gators the entire first half. Despite playing without starting point guard (and second-leading scorer) Joe Knight, who missed the game with a sprained left foot, the Panthers clawed back and nearly pulled within single digits before intermission. However, Florida's size and depth wore down the Panthers after halftime, as the Gators put together a 26-0 run to ice the game.
Jay Wallace led High Point with 14 points, while Ron Barrow added 11 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
The Panthers take a few days off for the holidays before returning to prepare for a Jan. 3 home date against Covenant, which is High Point's final non-conference game of the season. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.
High Point (49) - Halsch 0-3 0-0 0, Barrow 5-11 2-2 12, Wallace 6-12 2-3 14, Alves 1-8 0-2 2, Van Weerdhuizen 5-12 0-0 13, Ignatavicius 0-3 2-2 2, Cornette 2-12 2-2 6, Simon 0-0 0-0 0, Stonehocker 0-2 0-0 0, Hart 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0.
Florida (103) - Greene 3-5 0-0 7, Bonner 8-13 2-3 18, Haslem 6-10 5-7 17, Nelson 7-13 0-0 18, Hamilton 2-3 1-2 6, White 4-6 0-1 9, Haimovitch 0-1 0-0 0, Booker 0-0 1-2 1, Halton 4-8 0-0 8, Lee 7-9 2-4 16, King 1-3 1-2 3.
High Point 37 12 49 Florida 51 52 103
3-Point Goals- High Point 3-20 (Van Weerdhuizen 3-6, Halsch 0-1, Wallace 0-1, Ignatavicius 0-1, Cornette 0-4, Alves 0-7), Florida 7-20 (Nelson 4-8, Greene 1-2, Hamilton 1-2, White 1-3, Haimovitch 0-1, Bonner 0-2, Halton 0-2). Fouled out- High Point (Halsch, Barrow). Rebounds- High Point 31 (Barrow 8), Florida 50 (Bonner 11). Assists- High Point 13 (Wallace, Alves, Van Weerdhuizen, Cornette, Stonehocker 2), Florida 26 (Nelson, White 5).
