GAME NOTES: A Sunshine State showdown is on tap at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Tuesday evening, as the Florida State Seminoles play host to the Florida Gators.

Both teams has underachieved a bit heading into this, the 66th meeting in series history between the rivals. Florida holds a 43-22 advantage all-time and has won five straight overall against Florida State.

Billy Donovan's Gators began the season ranked highly in the Top-25, but four losses in the first seven games have left the team on the outside looking in. Florida has righted the ship of late however, coming into this contest with a season-high four-game win streak that includes a 63-50 victory over Wake Forest on Dec. 20.

Leonard Hamilton's Seminoles also opened the season slow, as three straight losses in November, left the team at a mere 1-3 after four games. More recently, FSU has won three straight games to move to 7-5 on the year and enters off a 63-59 victory over Stetson on Dec. 22.

Florida's four losses haven't exactly come against no-name teams, as Miami- Florida, Georgetown, North Carolina and Kansas are all powerhouses on the national level. Defensively, the Gators have been on point, as they are among the nation's top-15 in terms of scoring defense (55.5 ppg), holding opponents to just .386 shooting overall. The offensive numbers are modest, but coupled with the strong defense, a +12.5 scoring margin is sufficient. Junior guard Michael Frazier leads the team in scoring at 14.9 ppg. Dorian Finney-Smith (12.7 ppg) is the only other Gator in double figures, although Jon Horford (9.3 ppg) isn't far off the mark.

The Gators played superb defense in the first half, holding Wake Forest to just 19 points and .292 shooting over the final 20 minutes to take a nine- point lead into intermission. Florida came out after the break and shot a sizzling .522 from the floor to hold off the Demon Deacons and earn the win. Finney-Smith led the team with 16 points. Frazier chipped in 12 and Duke transfer Alex Murphy added nine in his first action of the season.

FSU will attempt to break through UF's defense with efficient offensive play. The Seminoles average a rather modest 71.3 ppg this year, but are doing so on .484 shooting, despite the 3-pointer not factoring into the team's overall gameplan (.244 from beyond the arc). The team still has to compensate for the loss of Aaron Thomas, whose 14.8 ppg still leads the team despite him playing in just half the games. Thomas has been ruined ineligible for the remainder of the season, opening the door for players like Montay Brandon (13.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg)), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (11.5 ppg, 5.5 apg) and Devon Bookert (8.4 ppg) to take on even bigger roles the rest of the way.

It wasn't a real pretty game, as FSU's 16 turnovers were converted into 26 points by Stetson, which hung around all game long as a result. However, Brandon and Rathan-Mayes took matters into their own hands, combining for 31 points, including 21 in the second half to lead the 'Noles to victory. Brandon finished the game with 17 points and six rebounds, while Rathan-Mayes added 14 points and seven assists to the cause.

The Seminoles have shown themselves vulnerable at times and with Florida playing better of late, this could be a much-needed boost for the Gators as SEC play is on the horizon.