Florida Gators
Kentucky
UF Claims SEC East Title in 70-67 Loss at Kentucky
Saturday, March 2, 2002 | Men's Basketball
LEXINGTON, KY. -- Cliff Hawkins's two free throws with 12 seconds to go sealed the win for the Wildcats on Senior Day. Florida came up three points short in the 70-67 decision at Rupp arena. No. 11 Kentucky earned a first round bye in the SEC Tournament, while No. 8 Florida will face Auburn in the first round Thursday.
Despite the loss, Florida still claims part of the SEC Eastern Division Title. With Georgia's loss to Tennessee today, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky are in a three-way tie for first place in the division with a 10-6 SEC record.
Florida shot 45 percent to Kentucky's 41 percent, but the Wildcats outrebounded the Gators 37-31 and scored 24 points off 16 Florida turnovers. The Gators lost both games versus the Wildcats this season by a total of five points.
Florida's loss in Lexington is the fifth loss this season that has come down to the final possession. Five of UF's SEC losses have been by five points or less, and four of those losses have been decided by three points or less.
The Gators (21-7, 10-6 SEC) made its first 5-of-5 from three point land in the first half. UF put together an 8-0 run in the beginning of the first half to take the lead, 22-11. Kentucky (20-8, 10-6 SEC) was down by as much as 13 points. The Wildcats used a 17-4 run to tie the game, 31-31, with seven minutes remaining in the first half. Florida led by two (41-39) at halftime. UF shot 52 percent (17-of-33) from the field in the first half, while holding Kentucky to 43 percent shooting.
Kentucky went on an 11-2 run to open up the second half and take the lead, 50-43. The Gators trailed the Wildcats until Udonis Haslem went to the line and made two free throws to spark a 12-2 Gator run to regain the lead, 61-59. With 1:30 left to play, Cliff Hawkins made a shot to tie the game 65-65.
Brett Nelson led the Gators with 23 points and was 5-of-9 from the three point line. Florida shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from beyond the arc for the second consecutive game.
Four Gators scored in double figures for the fourth straight game (Nelson, 23; Matt Bonner, 16; Justin Hamilton, 13; Udonis Haslem, 11).
The Gators will travel to Atlanta, Ga., to play Auburn in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
