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LSU Wins 1st Game For Pierre

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By JENNA MARINA, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 14, 2008

GAINESVILLE - As Louisiana State guard Garrett Temple's jaw bounced off of the court, Gators coach Billy Donovan knew the game was over.

"I'm watching Garrett Temple and there is blood coming down this guy's mouth, and I can just see in him the fire and the hardness. He had enough. He had enough of losing. He had enough of everything," Donovan said. "I don't see any of our guys hardened like that. I don't know if any of our guys would have gotten back up off the floor after that."

In Butch Pierre's first game as interim head coach, LSU beat Florida 85-73 Wednesday, handing the Gators their first loss in the O'Connell Center since Florida State on Nov. 23.

It was the second victory for the Tigers in their last 12 games and their first win since their head coach, John Brady, was fired Friday.

"They're hardened from losing. They're hardened from being 1-7. Certainly I think they've rallied and pulled together," Donovan said. "We haven't been scarred. We have baby skin right now. Maybe over the course of time, as you become more calloused and more hardened, that's when I think you realize what you have to do to put yourself in a position to win a game."

Florida (19-6, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) fell behind quickly in the first half as the Tigers (9-14, 2-7) jumped out with a 12-0 run.

The Gators, who once trailed by as much as 14 points, managed to cut the lead to four with 4:50 left in the first half, but LSU held off the push.

The second half played out much in the same way for Florida, which couldn't muster enough of an offensive game to combat its lack of defensive pressure.

The Gators allowed LSU to shoot 60 percent from the floor and 45 percent from the 3-point line.

It was only after Temple was sidelined with his gashed upper lip that the Gators made another run.

Nick Calathes converted a 3-point play, Dan Werner sank a layup and Marreese Speights slammed in a 1:33 span to pull within four again.

But as soon as Temple checked in with 9:39 left, the Tigers put up nine quick points as UF never recovered.

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