Keyontae Johnson scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Florida to an 81-66 Southeastern Conference victory against visiting LSU on Wednesday night at Gainesville, Fla.
Scottie Lewis scored 18 points and Andrew Nembhard added 17 for the Gators (18-10, 10-5 SEC), who earned their fourth win in the last five games.
Sophomore Johnson notched his seventh double-double this season and shot 11 of 15.
Florida avenged an 84-82 loss at LSU on Jan. 21.
Emmitt Williams scored 25 points and Trendon Watford had 15 for the Tigers (19-9, 10-5), who suffered their third loss in the last four games.
LSU's Skylar Mays, who entered averaging a team-high 16.4 points, had three points on 1-for-6 shooting.
The Tigers moved within 70-60 with 5:02 remaining thanks to James Bishop's 3-pointer and layup. But baskets by Lewis and Johnson gave the Gators a 14-point advantage with 3:26 left.
LSU failed to get within double digits over the last 18:04.
Florida scored more points in the paint (48-38) and had more points off turnovers (14-2). The Gators forced eight turnovers but committed just five.
Johnson hit 8 of 9 shots and scored 17 points as Florida built a 41-31 halftime lead.
The Gators ran out to a 7-0 lead and led by as many as 14 points in the first half, when they outscored LSU in the paint 34-14.
The Tigers played without reserve guard Charles Manning Jr., who reportedly was sidelined with a broken bone in his left foot. Manning missed eight games earlier this season after suffering a broken bone in his right foot.
--Field Level Media
