Florida Gators
Alabama
Early Deficit Too Much For Men's Basketball In 80-69 SEC Tournament Loss To Alabama
Friday, March 14, 2008 | Men's Basketball
The University of Florida men's basketball team nearly erased a 23-point halftime deficit, but Alabama held off a late charge and put away the Gators, 80-69, in the first round of the 2008 Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday night in the Georgia Dome.
Florida (21-11) saw its SEC Tournament winning streak come to an end at nine games after winning three straight tournament titles. It marked UF's first SEC Tournament loss since the 2004 championship game. The Gators' overall postseason winning streak was snapped as well. The impressive run that began with an SEC Tournament title in 2006 and continued with back-to-back NCAA Final Four championships came to an end at 18 games.
Sophomore center Marreese Speights (St. Petersburg, Fla.) overcame a sluggish first half to lead Florida with 15 points on Thursda. Freshman forward Chandler Parsons (Casselberry, Fla.) came off the bench and erupted for 13 points highlighted by a 3-of-5 effort from 3-point range.
Freshman guard Nick Calathes (Casselberry, Fla.) struggled and was only 3-of-12 from the field with nine points as the Gators only shot 38 percent from the field.
Alabama's 46-23 halftime lead proved to be too much to overcome. The Crimson Tide (17-15) connected on 53 percent of its shots spearheaded by guard Mykal Riley's game-high 26 points. Riley put together an 8-of-12 3-point barrage, and forward Richard Hendrix poured in 22 points and eight rebounds.
Riley snapped Florida's momentum with back-to-back 3s after the Gators pulled to 57-51 with 9:02 left.
Alabama had 14-0 and 11-0 runs in the first 11 minutes to lead by 25 before Florida reached double figures. The Crimson Tide took their biggest lead, 42-14, with four minutes left in the first half, then struggled to put the game away.
Florida beat Alabama, 90-83, on Jan. 8 in the conference opener for both clubs, but the Crimson Tide opened strong by scoring the first 14 points in the rematch.
Hendrix hit the first basket, and followed with a steal to set the pace. Riley had three 3-pointers in the first five minutes while Hendrix and guard Alonzo Gee, who had three first-half dunks, led the inside attack.
Alabama didn't rest on its opening run. After freshman forward Alex Tyus (St. Louis, Mo.) scored for Florida to make it 19-5, the Tide ripped off 11 straight points to push the lead to 30-5.
Florida managed only two field goals in the first 10:55.
Alabama led 46-23 at halftime and was up 55-30 after a 3-pointer by Riley, but Florida stormed back by scoring 21 of the next 23 points. Parsons hit two 3s during the run. Riley ended Florida's comeback with two 3-pointers, and the Gators got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Alabama will face Western Division top seed Mississippi State in Friday's quarterfinals. Florida will learn of its postseason fate on Sunday afternoon.
