Florida Gators
Arkansas
Florida Men's Basketball Falls To Arkansas In OT
Sunday, February 19, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Ronnie Brewer knocked down a three-pointer with under a minute to play in overtime and batted away a pass as Florida tried to tie Saturday as Arkansas upset the No. 7/10 Florida men's basketball team, 85-81, in Fayetteville on Saturday.
Florida (22-4, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) went up 77-75 in the extra period on baskets by Horford and Corey Brewer.
But Jonathan Modica, who scored Arkansas' first basket in OT, contributed a free throw and then Eric Ferguson went over Lee Humphrey for a brief 78-77 Arkansas lead with 2:15 to play.
Florida retook the lead 79-78 on a putback by Brewer after a pair of Taurean Green long-range misses. Green finished with 20 points, Corey Brewer scored 11 and Al Horford scored 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Arkansas (17-8, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) took control when Ronnie Brewer was fouled by Joakim Noah, who fouled out with 16 points, costing Florida a clutch shooter. Brewer converted both free throws for 80-79.
After a Florida miss, Brewer made his 3 for an 83-79 lead.
Horford made a 2 to shrink the deficit to 83-81 with 30.1 seconds to play. Brewer made a free throw on the other end for 85-81 with 19.7 seconds left and then knocked away a pass as the Gators moved the ball around the perimeter, trying to set up a 3.
The ball went to Arkansas and Brewer drew the foul, making one shot with 4.5 seconds to go for the final measure.
Brewer scored 24 points and Modica scored 22 for Arkansas. The Razorbacks had an overwhelming advantage on the line, attempting 42 free throws to just 20 for Florida. Arkansas had more free throws made (26) than field goals (25) as the Gators were whistled for 30 fouls on the game to 19 for Arkansas.
Brewer and Ferguson made consecutive 3s to start the second half but Florida got its bearings and the lead went back and forth.
Florida was up 73-72 with 2:25 to play. After a string of misses, Arkansas' Charles Townes drew a shooting foul, missed the first and made the second for 73-73. Florida had 20.6 seconds to develop a shot but was unable to convert.
The score was tied 31-31 at the half, with Green closing a Florida deficit by making a 3 with a under a minute on the clock.
Florida returns to action on Wednesday evening when SEC East-leading Tennessee comes to the O'Connell Center for an 8 p.m. tip. The Vols defeated Florida earlier this season in Knoxville, as now the Gators will look to make it a season split for the fourth straight year.
