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Gators Snap Out Of Funk

By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: February 19, 2009

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GAINESVILLE - The Florida Gators stopped the bleeding.

Nick Calathes scored 22 points, Alex Tyus added 16 and Erving Walker 13 Wednesday night as the Gators ended a two-game losing streak and won for the second time in five games, holding off Alabama 83-74.

The Gators, who two weeks ago held a one-game lead in the SEC East, improved to 20-6 and 7-4 in the conference and climbed back into a four-way tie with South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. South Carolina and Tennessee lost Wednesday night.

The win gave Florida its 11th consecutive season with at least 20 victories, but more importantly built hope for a stretch run into the SEC Tournament.

"It was a good win," said Calathes, the sophomore point guard who leads the team in scoring and assists. "We played tough. I thought we had a good two days of practice and we got the job done. It was just having our mind-set right. I think our backs were against the wall for this game. I thought we had to get this win."

Alabama (13-12, 3-8) put itself in the wrong place at a bad time. After losing three consecutive road games, the Gators found comfort in the O'Connell Center, where they have won 16 in a row - 14 this season.

"We do look more comfortable at home, but it should not matter," Tyus said. "I guess on the road we are not thinking about the game exactly. At home, we're comfortable and ready to play."

ALABAMA (13-12) - Green 5-12 2-6 12, Knox 3-6 0-0 6, Torrance 3-8 1-2 9, Gee 6-11 5-8 17, Hillman 6-12 1-2 15, Brock 3-5 0-0 6, Hollinger 0-0 0-0 0, Jemison 1-1 0-0 2, Steele 2-4 0-0 4, Coleman 1-3 1-2 3. Totals 30-62 10-20 74.

FLORIDA (20-6) - Werner 2-6 0-0 6, Parsons 4-9 1-3 9, Tyus 5-9 6-8 16, Hodge 3-13 2-2 9, Calathes 7-12 4-5 22, Vargas 0-0 0-0 0, Shipman 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 3-10 4-4 13, Kadji 3-8 2-2 8. Totals 27-67 19-24 83.

Halftime-Florida 47-35. 3-Point Goals-Alabama 4-14 (Hillman 2-4, Torrance 2-4, Knox 0-1, Brock 0-2, Gee 0-3), Florida 10-29 (Calathes 4-7, Walker 3-7, Werner 2-3, Hodge 1-9, Parsons 0-3). Fouled Out-Hillman. Rebounds-Alabama 41 (Green 15), Florida 37 (Kadji 8). Assists-Alabama 13 (Gee, Hillman, Torrance 3), Florida 17 (Calathes, Hodge 6). Total Fouls-Alabama 16, Florida 16. A-12,120.

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