GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Chandler Parsons and Kenny Boynton led eight players in double figures with 16 points apiece, and No. 9 Florida beat North Carolina A&T 105-55 Thursday night.
The Gators bounced back from an 18-point loss two nights early to fourth-ranked Ohio State and eclipsed the 100-point mark for the first time since 2007.
Florida (2-1) was bigger, faster and deeper than the Aggies (1-3) — and it showed from the opening tip. The Gators led by 28 points late in the first half and stretched it to 40 midway through the second.
Casey Prather (12), Erik Murphy (11), Erving Walker (11), Patric Young (11), Scottie Wilbekin (11) and Vernon Macklin (10) also scored in double figures for the Gators. Will Yeguete finished with seven points and 15 rebounds, including nine offensive.
Nic Simpson led North Carolina A&T with 11 points. Thomas Coleman added eight points and 10 boards.
Coach Billy Donovan expressed some concern in the preseason that his team had the mentality to put lesser opponents away in the second half. The Gators had no trouble against the Aggies, scoring 53 points in the first half and 52 in the second.
And most of the second-half scoring came with Florida's four freshmen on the floor.
The Gators held A&T to 34.5 percent shooting, 28 points in the first and 27 in the second. Of course, it helped that Florida was better at every position.
The Gators drove to the basket at will, breaking the Aggies down and getting open looks all around. Every starter shot better than 50 percent, and the team hit 57.5 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range.
Florida had 26 assists on 42 shots, and finished with 16 steals and eight blocks.
It was a better showing than Florida's last outing. Ohio State dominated Tuesday night's game and pulled away in the second half. Florida had 18 turnovers, 11 assists and just one steal against the Buckeyes.
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