By Mike Bonts
www.gatorsinsider.com
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Head coach Billy Donovan got career victory 400 as No. 10 Florida bested Stetson 96-70 before 5,834 at the Florida Citrus Sports Shootout in Orlando. The Gators improved to 5-1. Stetson is now 3-3.
Freshman guard Bradley Beal scored 22 points for Florida and led with 10 rebounds. Erving Walker added 21 and Kenny Boynton contributed 13 in the win.
The Gators pulled away 38-16 with 7:18 to play in the first half on Beals' layup. Florida led 47-31 at the half.
Florida earned Donovan his 400th career win as a head coach, including his two seasons at Marshall. Donovan reached 100 on Feb. 2, 2000, with an 86-82 win at South Carolina, won his 200th on Feb. 25, 2004, with a 69-58 victory vs. South Carolina and gained win No. 300 on Nov. 17, 2007, 88-63 vs. Rutgers.
Stetson turned the ball over 18 times, 14 were steals, to Florida's 10. The Hatters were 21 of 29 from the free throw line compared to 14 of 20 for the Gators.
The Hatters were led by sophomore guard Chris Perez with 20 points. Adam Pegg scored 19 and Willie Green added 11.
The annual Florida Citrus Sports Shootout matched the Gators and Hatters in the first basketball game of the season for Orlando's Amway Arena.
Coming off last season's SEC championship and Elite 8 appearance, the Gators made their third trip to Orlando in four years. They defeated a rebuilding Stetson team with new head coach Casey Alexander from Atlantic Sun conference rival Belmont.
Florida and Stetson squared off for the 67th time in series history, with UF now leading 52-14. The Florida Citrus Shootout marks the fi rst time the teams face one another on a neutral floor and the fi rst game outside Gainesville since Dec.1, 1986.
The Gators play at Syracuse on Dec. 2. Stetson hosts East Tennessee State on Dec. 1.
