GAINSVILLE, Fla. – Florida opened up a lead with a big second-half scoring run coming out of intermission, turning the momentum of that stretch into an 81-45 victory over the Milwaukee men's basketball team Thursday night at Exactech Arena.
 
"Not a very well-played game by us at all," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "We really struggled offensively and I think that crept into our toughness on the defensive end."
 
The 24^th-ranked Gators (3-0) opened up an 11-point game at the break with a 14-2 run to start the second against the Panthers (1-2), giving them control the rest of the way.
 
"Just a black-and-blue game, and we took all the hits," Baldwin said. "I don't think they're more athletic. I think they're tougher right now. It's the toughness that we have to get and that's plain and simple."
 
Patrick Baldwin Jr. led the way with 13 points, adding three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Markeith Browning II was the other MKE player in double-figures, finishing the night with 11 points, six boards, and a steal.
 
"We had some guys that really tried to fight out there and stick their nose in things," Baldwin said. "But we need more guys to do that, and I think this group will. We're getting heavy punches from teams so we have to withstand them, take them on, and we have to fight."
 
The Panthers started cold from the field (2-10 FG) and down 12-2 from the start, but dug in and were back to within 14-9 on a DeAndre Gholston three at the 10:22 mark and all the way back to 18-14 when Browning II split a pair of free throws. From there, a 9-0 run helped the Gators cause, with a long Newby jumper trimming the margin to 27-16 and a pretty around-the-back layup from PBJ at the halftime horn making it 33-22 at the break.
 
Baldwin Jr. then hit a layup just into the start of the second before Florida hit its stride. The Gators held MKE without a field goal for the next 10-plus minutes, using a 14-2 run to start the second to seize control.
 
"I think one thing compounds another," Baldwin said. "We had some shot-clock violations, we had some turnovers, we had some missed shots and they got out in transition and then started making some threes and opened up the game a bit."
 
A big scoring run forced a Milwaukee timeout at 63-26. The Panthers then used a 12-0 run of their own to get back within 68-41, but it was too late.
 
"Whenever you're on the road and you're playing a team that is as good and physical as Florida, if you don't take care of the ball, if you're not tough on the offensive end and run good offense, it's going to be a long night," Baldwin said.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain in the Sunshine State through the weekend, heading to take part in the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Tuesday and Wednesday. Up next is a matchup with Bowling Green Nov. 23, set for a 1:30 p.m. CST tipoff.