Florida Gators
Ole Miss
Gators Pick Up Crucial Win At Ole Miss
Sunday, February 22, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson scored 24 points apiece, while the Florida Gators hit 54 percent from the floor as they snapped a two-game losing streak with an impressive 81-66 victory at Ole Miss.
Leading 29-23 at the break, the Gators (15-8, 6-6 SEC) exploded in the second half, hitting 66.7 percent from the floor while scoring 51 points over the final 20 minutes. The Gators connected on 16-of-24 attempts in the second half while dishing out 11 assists with only four turnovers. Florida held Ole Miss (12-11, 4-8 SEC) to 42.4 percent from the floor on the night, while the Rebels were only able to connect on 7-of-23 three-point attempts.
Trailing 23-22 with under three minutes remaining in the first half, the Gators scored the final seven points of the half to take the lead and never relinquish it.
The Gators started hot in the second half, opening the frame on a 9-4 run that extended the lead to double digits for the first time when Lee Humphrey knifed through the lane for a lay-up that gave the Gators a 38-27 lead. As the teams traded baskets back and forth, a three-pointer from the left corner by Mohamed Abukar gave the Gators a 47-35 lead and the margin never got below double digits the rest of the way.
Walsh scored 16 of his 24 in the second half, hitting 7-of-12 shots overall on the night, including 3-of-5 three-point attempts. Roberson scored 14 in the second half and finished the game hitting 8-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-8 from three-point range just two days after dislocating the ring finger on his shooting hand.
David Lee just missed a double-double, scoring 10 points while adding nine rebounds. Lee also added a team-high five assists.
Eight of the nine Gators that played scored, as the Gators were able to get offense from all angles. Florida hit 8-of-18 three-pointers on the night (44.4 percent), while the teas finished even on the glass with 31 apiece.
Florida improved to 27-8 against the SEC West over the past five-plus seasons. The win also moved the Gators within a game of second place in the SEC Each behind South Carolina, their next opponent. The two will meet in Gainesville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in a crucial game in the SEC standings.
