Freshman Nick Calathes helped Florida open the 2007-08 season with a 10-point victory over the Bison of North Dakota State by leading all scorers with 21 points. Walter Hodge added 15 and the two-time defending national champion Gators beat a tough and energetic North Dakota State 75-65 team in its season opener.

Florida received clutch baskets all night from Calathes and some big ones down the stretch from Hodge and Marreese Speights.  Playing its first game in four years without Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah,  Hodge made two driving layups in the closing minutes that stopped the Bison from making a comeback.

Speights had Florida's only dunk to help seal the victory late in the game.  Speights finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.