Florida Gators
Kentucky
Record Crowd Watches Men?s Hoops Down Kentucky, 95-80
Sunday, February 5, 2006 | Men's Basketball
The No. 7/8 Florida men's basketball team had five players reach double figures on its way to its 20th win of the season, a 95-80 triumph over Eastern Division rival Kentucky in front of a record-breaking crowd of 12,609 fans at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and a nationally-televised audience on ESPN2 on Saturday night. This marks the eighth-straight season under head coach Billy Donovan that the Gators have posted 20 wins, and they also established a school record with their 20th consecutive home victory. With the win, Florida improved to 20-2 overall, 6-2 in the SEC, while the Wildcats dropped to 15-7 overall and 5-3 in league play.
Sophomore Taurean Green (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) turned in a career-high 29-point performance to lead the Orange and Blue's scoring attack, on 8-for-14 shooting from the field as well as a 10-for-12 effort from the free-throw line. Green added a game-leading nine assists to equal his career-high and notched three steals as well. Classmate Joakim Noah (New York, N.Y.) also notched his career-high point total with 26 against UK. Noah went 11-for-13 from the field to record an impressive 84.6 shooting percentage, pulled down eight boards and blocked three shots.
Sophomore Corey Brewer (Portland, Tenn.) chipped in 16 points for the Gators, as well as four apiece in the rebound and assist categories. Sophomore Al Horford (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) recorded a double-double for the fifth time this season, scoring 11 rebounds and grabbing 11 boards. Horford shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and blocked three shots.
Junior Chris Richard (Lakeland, Fla.) rounded out Florida's double-figure scorers with a 10-point effort. Junior Lee Humphrey (Maryville, Tenn.) made his return to the court following a shoulder injury that kept him on the bench for one game to contribute 11 minutes in which he recorded two assists and one steal.
In the first half of the game, the two teams matched shot-for -shot as the score was tied seven times and the lead changed 15 times. Kentucky held the largest advantage by either team at the 2:05 mark with a score of 39-34. The Gators didn't stay down for long, scoring five quick points to tie up the score before heading into the locker room at the break down two at 41-39.
The Wildcats posted a quick two points to start the second half before the stifling Florida defense shut them down completely for five-and-a-half minutes. The ensuing 18-1 Gator scoring run put the game away for the home team. While UK did attempt to mount a comeback late in the second half, the Orange and Blue stayed on top for the duration to secure its first three-game win streak over Kentucky since 1988.
Florida eclipsed UK by outscoring them, 44-28, in the paint, and putting up 25 points off of 17 Wildcat turnovers. The Gators shot 57.7 percent from the field, compared to Kentucky's 40.3 percent. The Wildcats were led by Rajon Rondo, who put up 22 points and had a game-leading five steals.
Next up, the Gators return to the O'Dome Wednesday, Feb. 8, for a 7 p.m. match-up against South Carolina. Florida will look to avenge one of its two losses this season in the game to be aired on Sun Sports.
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