Florida Gators
Providence
Green Scores 18 In Men's Basketball Win Over Providence
Wednesday, December 7, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Taurean Green (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) scored 18 points and made four of Florida's nine 3-pointers in the No. 10 Gators' 87-77 victory over Providence on Tuesday.
Corey Brewer (Portland, Tenn.) and Al Horford (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) each added 14 points for Florida, which improved to 8-0 and matched the team's best start since it opened 10-0 in 1951.
The game marked a homecoming of sorts for Florida coach Billy Donovan, who starred on Rick Pitino's Providence team that reached the Final Four in 1987. Donovan was honored in a pregame ceremony, and drew a standing ovation.
Sharaud Curry scored all 20 of his points in the second half for Providence (3-3). Randall Hanke, the Friars' leading scorer who's averaging 16 points a game, was held to eight.
The Gators, who led 47-34 at halftime, scored the first six points of the second half and Providence never got closer than the final score.
Florida opened the game with an 11-0 run, taking advantage of Providence's struggles on offense. The Friars missed their first 10 shots and committed five turnovers -- Hanke ended the drought with an inside basket with 13:42 left in the first half.
Providence pulled within six points at 20-14 on a jumper by DeSean White, but Florida pulled away on a 17-2 run -- fueled by two 3-pointers from Green and one each by Lee Humphrey (Maryville, Tenn.) and Brewer.
A 3-pointer by Donnie McGrath drew Providence to 40-34 with 57 seconds left, but Florida went on a 7-0 run capped by Green's 3 at the buzzer.
Florida had five players score in double figures and shot 50.9 percent for the game -- just below its season average of 52.9 percent. Providence shot just 25-for-62 for 40.3 percent.
The Gators return home to face Bethune-Cookman on Friday night at 8:30 p.m.
-UF-
