| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- If ninth-ranked Florida is to remain
among the top teams in the land, it must show it can win on the
road in the Southeastern Conference.
Mike Miller scored 25 points and Teddy Dupay hit two free throws
with 16 seconds left as Florida held off Alabama 77-73 Saturday
night for only its second victory at Tuscaloosa since 1970.
"Florida hasn't won in a lot of places very much," Miller
said. "We're just trying to change that."
The Gators (14-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference), coming off a
double overtime loss at home to No. 16 Tennessee, have won
consecutive SEC road games for the first time in five years.
Florida had lost on 25 of its last 26 visits to Tuscaloosa.
"We showed a lot of character tonight," Dupay said. "We came
out, won on the road and prevented a losing streak."
"I feel like we came in against a very, very good Alabama team,
obviously one of the better defensive teams in the league," Gators
coach Billy Donovan said. "Mike Miller stepped up and took over
the game from an offensive standpoint."
The Tide (9-8, 2-3), who trailed by 11 points early in the
second half, went on a 14-5 run, capped by Rod Grizzard's
3-pointer, to lead 57-55 with 10:30 to play.
The Gators responded with a 10-2 run, capped by Kenyan Weaks'
3-pointer to make it 65-59. Grizzard's 3-pointer ended a 12-3
Alabama run that made it 71-68 with 2:45 left.
Miller scored the next five points and converted a steal into a
3-point play to give Florida a 73-71 lead with 1:49 remaining.
"I just thought it was time for me to come up and make a play,
and that's what I did," Miller said.
Alabama's Erwin Dudley tied it before the Gators retook the lead
on a follow shot by Udonis Haslem. At the other end, Schea Cotton
missed a leaner in the lane and Dupay hit his free throws. Alabama
missed its final two shots.
Dupay had missed two shots from the line with the game tied late
in the first overtime against Tennessee Tuesday night.
"I wanted a chance again," said the 5-foot-10 guard, who finished
with 12 points and six assists. "I'm supposed to make free
throws."
Miller was 10-of-11 from the line and had nine rebounds.
Grizzard scored 26 points, five more than he had totaled in the
previous five games. He also had 10 rebounds and four assists.
"It was a breakout game for Rod," Alabama coach Mark Gottfried
said. "He wasn't thinking out there, he was just reacting and
making plays."
Terrance Meade had 15 of his 20 points in the second half and
Cotton finished with 15. Meade was 5-of-7 from 3-point range.
"The crowd was on our side, and we had Florida in our hands,"
Cotton said. "We had our opportunities but just didn't convert."
The Tide scored four straight points to close to 24-23 with 6:21
left in the first half. Justin Hamilton's 3-pointer started a 9-0
Gators run and Miller scored nine points in the final 5:04 for a
40-33 halftime lead.
Alabama, which has lost two starters to injury, had only five
players score. The Gators, who came in averaging a league-high 87
points per game, had eight players score and won most of the
battles for loose balls late in the game.
"We weren't tired one bit," Dupay said. "We could play 10
overtimes and it would still be easier than our practices."
| |
ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Alabama Clubhouse
|
