Florida opens long stretch at home vs. UMKC

Nov 30, 2008 - 8:11 AM UMKC (3-4) at No. 18 Florida (4-1) 1:00 p.m. EST

Florida was less than impressive during the CBE Classic in Kansas City, but does not have to worry about leaving its home state again until 2009.

The 18th-ranked Gators open a stretch of 11 straight games inside state lines when they face Missouri-Kansas City at Amway Arena on Sunday.

After winning its first three games, all at home, by an average of nearly 20 points per contest, the Gators faced a step up in competition on the neutral floor and it showed.

Florida was handed its first loss by Syracuse in the semifinals, 89-83, and it barely escaped to salvage a third-place finish in the tournament against Washington.

Nick Calathes scored 21 points and handed out eight assists as the Gators overcame a late charge by Washington to post an 86-84 victory. Florida blew all of a 10-point lead in the last five minutes but a 3-pointer by Walter Hodge propelled it to the victory.

Calathes is averaging team-highs of 17.4 points and 6.4 assists for the Gators, who do not play a true road game against an out-of-state opponent until January 14 at Auburn.

UMKC is coming off a 73-69 win at Florida Gulf Coast and will face the Gators for the first time in program history. It is the Kangaroos' second game against a ranked opponent, having lost, 71-56, to Kansas.

Reggie Hamilton, who leads UMKC with 19 points a game, collected 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the win Wednesday.