Florida Gators
Miami (Fla.)
Men's Basketball Falls Short Against Canes, 72-65
Saturday, December 4, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Anthony Roberson poured in a team-high 20 points, but it wasn't enough as the No. 18 Florida Gators fell to the Miami Hurricanes 72-65 in front of a home crowd of 10,862.
With his 20-pont effort, Roberson became the 36th Gator in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Roberson earned a spot in the 1,000-point club when he sank a three-pointer with 10:29 remaining in the first half. The junior from Saginaw, Mich., became one of the 10 fastest players in school history to score 1,000 points, and the quickest to do so since 1986. With the help of his 21st 20-point game of his career, Roberson now has 1,015 career points.
Florida (4-1) started the game off hot as junior Adrian Moss sparked an 8-0 run to give the Gators an early 11-2 lead. However, Miami (3-2) responded with eight consecutive points to put the game within one, 11-10 with 15:28 remaining in the half. The Gators maintained the lead until Miami's Anthony Harris tied the game 25-25 at the charity stripe. Florida took control with a jumper from David Lee in the final seconds of the first half, sending the Gators into the locker room with a two-point advantage, 32-30.
After the break, Miami scored the first basket of the second half to tie the game 32-32. Junior Matt Walsh, Roberson and Lee contributed points during the Gators' 7-0 run with 16:38 left on the clock, putting UF on top 41-34. Moss helped Florida hang onto the lead when he converted a three-point play, giving UF a 50-44 advantage. Miami rallied to tie the game 50-50 with 9:18 remaining.
Miami continued to score down the stretch, going on an 8-0 run to take a 60-55 lead with five minutes left. Roberson used a three-point play to put UF within two (60-58). Lee, who finished the game with 16 points and eight rebounds, tied the game at 60 apiece with a thunderous dunk, but UM was able to score five unanswered points to regain control of the game 65-60. Miami was able to close out the game with the help of five successful trips to the free throw line.
The Gators return to the hardwood Wednesday, Dec. 8 to take on the Stetson Hatters. Tip off is schedule at 7 p.m. at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
