Dorian Finney-Smith scored 16 points and had four of the Florida Gators' season-high 17 steals to help beat sloppy Wake Forest 63-50 Saturday in the Orange Bowl Classic.

Wake Forest tied a season high with 24 turnovers and shot just 37 percent. Codi Miller-McIntyre converted a four-point play to cut the Demon Deacons' deficit to 52-49 with 5:10 left, but they were then shut out until the final seconds.

The Gators improved to 7-4 with their fourth consecutive victory, and the Demon Deacons fell to 5-6 with their fourth loss in the past five games.

Michael Frazier II scored 12 points for Florida and was chosen the game's outstanding player. He and the Demon Deacons' Aaron Rountree III escaped serious injury when they collided midway through the first half.

Frazier was bloodied by a cut on the right side of his face and immediately went to the locker room, but returned to start the second half with a bandage on his temple. Rountree was hit in the mouth and dazed but also returned to the game.

The Demon Deacons played without guard Mitchell Wilbekin, who was suspended for up to six games because of an undisclosed NCAA violation. School officials made the announcement about two hours before the game and said they would appeal.

Miller-McIntyre led Wake Forest with 16 points. The Demon Deacons trailed 39-29 with 14½ minutes left, but they had the ball three times down the stretch with a chance to take the lead.

Florida then scored seven consecutive points to pull away. Finney-Smith sank a basket and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions, and a breakaway layup by Frazier following a steal made it 59-49.

The Gators made 5 of 6 shots and forced four turnovers during a 15-0 stretch that put them up 22-10 midway through the first half. The two teams combined to miss 15 consecutive shots during a seven-minute stretch in the first half.

Florida State beat South Florida 75-62 in the first game of the annual one-day event.

TIP INS

Florida: Former Duke forward Alex Murphy made his debut for the Gators and had nine points off the bench. Murphy was declared eligible shortly before the game after he received his grades for the fall semester.

Wake Forest: Forward Devin Thomas had nine rebounds and seven points, but he committed 10 turnovers.

UP NEXT

Florida plays at Florida State on Dec. 30.

Wake Forest plays host to Bucknell on Monday.