Florida Gators
Auburn
Men's Basketball Earns Fourth Straight 20-Win Year
Thursday, February 21, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Florida had no turnovers in the second half and only gave up four points off their 11 first-half turnovers. The Gators turned Auburn's 17 tournovers into 19 points.
Florida started the game off hot, going on a 11-2 game-opening run powered by eight points from junior Brett Nelson. Auburn cam back with a 8-0 run of its own, holding Florida scoreless for the next four minutes and 15 seconds to narrow the gap to 11-10. Udonis Haslem hit a free throw to end the Tiger run, and from that point on Auburn could string together no more than five consecutive points.The Gators then went on an eight minute, 18-3 run. A three point basket by Orien Greene gave Florida its first double-digit lead of the game at 23-13 with 10:06 to go in the half and Auburn never got any closer. The Gators went into the lockerroom with the 48-26 lead at the half.
Haslem came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, scoring nine of Florida's first 15 points. He led all scorers with 18 points and added six rebounds.The Gators played very balanced team ball throughout the game. Every player that got in the game scored at least six points, with four players, Haslem, Matt Bonner, Greene and David Lee, in double figures. Bonner and Bonnell Colas led all rebounders with eight boards each. Florida also dished out 19 assists and had nine steals.
Adam Harrington led Auburn with 11 points. Lewis Monroe and Marquis Daniels each scored 10 for the Tigers.Auburn had the SEC's fourth lowest opponent field goal percentage coming into the game, but that was shattered by Florida's blistering 59 percent shooting in the first half. The Gators finished the game shooting 52 percent (34-for-66) while Auburn shot only 40 percent.
With Arkansas' 67-59 win over Alabama (22-5, 10-3), the Gators are only one game back from the lead in the Southeastern Conference. They will face off against the league's top team at Alabama Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS.
