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Gators Breeze Past Miami

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By MIKE DiFERDINANDO

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 21, 2009

GAINESVILLE - Walter Hodge opened the night with a deep 3 just 13 seconds into the game and the Gators never looked back.

Florida (25-10) went on a 20-2 run to start the game and cruised to a 74-60 win against Miami (19-13) in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.

The Hurricanes finally got on the board with 14:33 left in the first half.

"It was just the energy," Nick Calathes said. "We wanted to come out and play. I think we made the step-up plays tonight - the little plays to win the game."

Calathes seems to have recaptured the form he showed earlier this season. The point guard scored a game-high 21 points and dished out seven assists.

He broke his own single-season school assist record with 224 on the year. Calathes racked up 221 last season.

"I love him," Miami coach Frank Haith said. "I think he's as good a point guard as there is in the country. If there's a guy out there that can pass the ball better than him, I want to see him."

Alex Tyus registered his fifth double-double with 13 points and 12 boards. The center has finished in double figures in 11 of the Gators' last 13 games.

Despite feeling under the weather, forward Dan Werner managed to score 13 points and grab six rebounds.

"Dan was sick," Calathes said. "He didn't even warm up today."

The Gators managed to hold Miami's Jack McClinton to just 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting.

"We dug ourselves a hole and just couldn't get back into the game," McClinton said.

Florida will host Penn State (24-11) Tuesday night at 9 in the NIT quarterfinals.

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