National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Florida 84, Rhode Island 59
When: 9:00 PM ET, Monday, January 3, 2011
Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
Officials: # Ed Corbett, # Tom Eades, # Ron Groover
Attendance: 8016
Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
Officials: # Ed Corbett, # Tom Eades, # Ron Groover
Attendance: 8016
A 22-2 first-half run helped Florida wrap up non-conference play in fine fashion with an 84-59 victory over Rhode Island at Gainesville, Fla., on Monday.
The Gators (11-3) open their Southeastern Conference season at home Saturday night against Ole Miss.
Against Rhode Island, Florida broke open a close game midway through the first half. Leading 13-12 eight minutes in, the Gators scored 22 of the next 24 points.
Vernon Macklin’s jumper started the run and Erving Walker scored six points during the surge. By the time Scottie Wilbekin scored on a layup with 4:21 left in the first half, the Gators led 35-14.
Rhode Island cut the lead to 38-26 early in the second half, but a quick 7-0 Florida run - boosted by 3-pointers from Walker and Kenny Boynton - pushed the lead to 45-26.
Chandler Parsons led Florida with 18 points and Walker scored 14. Both made three 3-pointers.
Delroy James scored a game-high 23 points for Rhode Island (9-5), which starts Atlantic 10 play Sunday at home against Xavier.
Top Game Performances
| Rhode Island | Florida | |
| Delroy James 23 | Scoring | Chandler Parsons 18 |
| Marquis Jones 7 | Assists | Chandler Parsons 5 |
| Will Martell 7 | Rebounds | Chandler Parsons 12 |
| Delroy James 4 | Free Throws Made | Patric Young 4 |
| Nikola Malesevic 3 | Steals | Erving Walker 2 |
| Ben Eaves 2 | Blocks | Kenny Boynton 2 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
| Rhode Island | 59 | 37.5 | 4-23 | 7-8 | 12 | 29 | 6 | 5 | |
| Florida | 84 | 47.0 | 8-18 | 14-21 | 19 | 41 | 4 | 6 |