Calathes leads Florida 82-54
GAINESVILLE (AP) — Nick Calathes’ triple double — 11 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists — led Florida to a 82-54 victory Friday night over Creighton, moving the defending two-time national champions into next week’s quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament.
Florida (23-11) used a 14-0 spurt midway through the first half to take a 29-12 lead on its way to a 39-19 halftime advantage that amped to 49-21 with a 10-2 getaway in the second half.
Walter Hodge led Florida’s balanced attack with 15 points. Marreese Speights added 14 and Jai Lucas 10.
Calathes got the rare trifecta — just the second in Florida basketball history — with a layup late in the game that gave the Gators a 72-39 lead.
Calathes, a 6-foot-6 freshman from Casselberry, became the first player in Florida history to collect 200 assists in a season when he dished out his second early in the game.
It was the second straight impressive NIT win for Florida, which routed San Diego State 73-49 in a first-round game Wednesday. The Gators have won 20 of their last 21 postseason games as they head for Arizona State and a Tuesday quarterfinal game.
Florida played one of its best halves of the season, forcing Creighton into a dozen turnovers while committing just four of their own on its way to the 20-point halftime lead.
Cavel Witter scored 13 points and Dane Watts 10 for Creighton (22-11).