Florida vs. Alabama: Live Game Reactions and Analysis

A thriller in Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa Tuesday night led to a Florida Gators victory of the Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 52-50. While an ugly game for both sides offensively, the game went down to the wire, and Dorian Finney-Smith's finishing dunk was the separating score.

Three Points

1. Turnovers Were the Difference Maker in Tuscaloosa

Alabama's 12 turnovers in the first half had them trailing Florida by 13 at half, and the loose and uncoordinated play of the Crimson Tide were the key reasons Alabama lost.

No team that scores 22 points in a half and turns it over 12 times in a half will have an easy game, and that was the case for Alabama.

Florida did allow Alabama back into the game with a string of turnovers to start the second half, and it was like Florida and Alabama traded quality of play. They both nearly met in the middle at the end of the game with 16 turnovers for Florida, and 17 for Alabama.

2. Jimmy Taylor and Tim Horford Made both Teams Play a Different Game

Jimmy Taylor and Tim Horford are the primary big men for Alabama and Florida, and their quick and irresponsible fouls made both teams play a different game.

Neither side seemed to have rhythm on offense, and it showed in the scoring. Taylor ended the night without a single score, and Horford ended with two points total. 

Their absence put the pressure on Christopher Walker and Rodney Cooper for Florida and Alabama, respectively. Walker had 12 points and Cooper had 14. 

3. There Are Good Things to Come from Eli Carter

Eli Carter's night doesn't initially impress. four of ten from the field, and 13 points total may be a average or even below average night for some players, but Carter's night was better than it seemed. Shooting 50 percent from the three-point line, and his three three-point shots separated the Gators late in the second half. Walker also had three rebounds.

Carter's shooting and total statistics may not impress, but his play gave the Gators a cushion it eventually needed to win the game. This is hardly a breakout performance, but Carter can maybe build off this performance going forward for the Gators.

It was an intense game for both teams for both halves, but at the end of the night Finney-Smith's first bucket of the night ended up being the last, and gave the Gators a hard earned victory. 

Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.