Alabama Beats Florida For First Time In 12 Tries, 61-55
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Retin Obasohan scored 15 points, Jimmy Taylor added 11 and Alabama beat Florida for the first time in its last 12 tries with a 61-55 victory on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (15-9, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) made 42 percent of their shots from the field and held the Gators (16-9, 7-5) to a season-low 28.6 percent. Alabama won its fourth straight and handed Florida its first SEC home loss of the season.
Florida was looking for a spark in the middle of the second half and found a minor glimpse of life when Justin Leon hit a corner 3 and KeVaughn Allen followed by grabbing a defensive rebound, taking the ball coast-to-coast and ending with a two-handed dunk.
But after three minutes of exchanging baskets, Alabama scored seven unanswered points to build up a 47-41 lead with 6:34 to play that gave them the edge for good. Obasohan scored five of those points before fouling out a minute later.
Florida missed 12 of 14 shots to finish the game. Allen and Dorian Finney-Smith had 12 points each.
The Gators had a six-point lead early in the second half, but an 11-3 Alabama run swung the momentum back to the Crimson Tide.
Florida scored eight unanswered points near the end of the first half — six free throws and John Egbunu's layup — to take a 27-20 lead before Alabama's Justin Coleman hit a buzzer-beating 3-point shot to cut Florida's halftime lead to 27-23.
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TIP-INS
Florida: Devin Robinson re-entered the starting lineup after 13 games coming off the bench. He missed all five of his shots. . The Gators lost just their second home game of the season.
Alabama: Improved to 9-0 when holding opponents under 60 points. . Had four players score in double figures.
UP NEXT
Alabama travels to LSU on Wednesday.
Florida travels to Georgia on Tuesday.
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