Florida Gators
South Carolina
Men's Basketball Holds Off South Carolina To Earn 20th Win, 85-82
Thursday, February 21, 2008 | Men's Basketball
The University of Florida men's basketball team used a 58-percent shooting effort and held off a late charge by South Carolina to earn its 20th win of the season by a score of 85-82 on Wednesday night at the O'Connell Center.
The Gators (20-7, 7-5 SEC) snapped a two-game losing streak and won their fifth straight over the Gamecocks (12-13, 4-7). Florida has now reached 20 wins in 10 consecutive seasons.
Both teams shot over 50 percent for the game and combined for over 23 3-point baskets. The Gators connected on a blistering 67 percent from the field in the first half. After going 1-of-15 from behind the arc at Vanderbilt, Florida finished the game 11-of-23 from 3-point range with seven of those treys coming in the first half.
The 11 3-pointers tied for the most by the Gators in an SEC contest this year and the most since the league opener at Alabama on Jan. 8. Florida's 58 percent (32-of-55) from the field was also its highest output in a conference game this season.
All five Gator starters registered double digits led by freshman guard Nick Calathes (Casselberry, Fla.), who poured in 17 points to go along with seven assists and three steals. Junior guard Walter Hodge (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) added 14 points and tied a season high with four 3-pointers on nine attempts.
Florida sat at the free throw line with a steady six-point with 0:40 remaining before the Gamecocks mounted their second comeback of the evening. After freshman guard Jai Lucas (Bellaire, Texas), made one of two free throws, USC forward Evka Baniulis made it a one possession game on a 3-pointer with 0:29 left.
Calathes was then fouled and made one of two at the line before Banilulis responded with a yet another three over two defenders to cut the deficit to 82-80 with 0:18 to go. Calathes netted only one free throw after he was fouled, and South Carolina trailed 83-80 with 0:16.
USC guard Devan Downey elected for a quick two, which was quickly offset by two Lucas free throws at the 0:07 mark. In a brilliant move by UF head coach Billy Donovan, the Gators fouled Downey right when he crossed half court, and the Gamecocks were never able to get a 3-pointer off.
Downey missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and the clock expired to secure the 85-82 victory. Banilulis, who averaged only 4.9 points per game, led all scorers with 18. He finished 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.
UF, who held a 48-36 advantage at the half, built a 17-point lead with 14:34 to play. USC trimmed the score under double digits culminating with back-to-back jumpers by Dominique Archie with 4:34 left. Downey later knocked down a three, and Mike Holmes threw down a dunk in transition to bring the Gamecocks within one possession at 75-72.
Sophomore forward Dan Werner (Middletown, N.J.) then provided a crucial 3-pointer from the baseline that stretched the margin to 78-72. Werner finished with 15 points and was 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
Freshman Adam Allen (Milton, Fla.) got into the shooting mix with nine points as he was a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in nine minutes of action. Allen's play sparked a shooting spree in the first half that featured two thunderous dunks by sophomore center Marreese Speights (St. Petersburg, Fla.). Speights tallied his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Florida returns to action in one week when the Gators travel to face Georgia on Feb. 27 in Athens. Tipoff for the contest is 7:30 p.m. ET from Stegeman Coliseum.
