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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Nothing is coming easy for No. 14 Florida
these days, particularly in the Southeastern Conference.
On Wednesday night, it took a scorching second half from Udonis
Haslem and Brett Nelson and three missed shots by Auburn in the
final seconds for the Gators to eke out a 65-63 victory.
"The Lord gave us the resiliency in this game to come back and
win it," coach Billy Donovan said. "We played with the kind of
intensity, character and toughness that I want our teams to play
with."
All five of Florida's league games have been decided by three
points or less.
Haslem and Nelson combined for 32 of 41 second-half points for
the Gators (12-4, 2-3). Haslem finished with 26 points while Nelson
hit five 3-pointers and scored all of his 17 points in the second
half.
"Udonis was a man in the second half," Donovan said. "He was
absolutely terrific."
Orien Greene hit two free throws with 52 seconds left to give
Florida a 65-61 lead.
The Tigers (12-7, 2-4) got two free throws from Adam Harrington
and then Greene was called for traveling with 35 seconds left.
Harrington then missed a 3-pointer but the ball went out of
bounds off Florida with 2.5 seconds to play.
After both teams called timeouts, Harrington couldn't get an
alley-oop try from Jamison Brewer on the inbounds pass to fall.
Marquis Daniel's follow shot circled halfway around the rim before
falling out.
"We had our opportunities tonight but we just couldn't get our
important shots to fall," Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said. "In the
end, Adam had a good look that went in and out. Nothing we could do
about that. After that we even had three other looks that just
wouldn't fall in the end."
The Tigers, with the league's worst scoring defense, effectively
shut down the top scoring team in the first half for a 28-24 lead.
At halftime, Donovan was more concerned with his team's attitude
than strategy.
"The only adjustment I made was I got in their face at
halftime," said Donovan, who had three starters out or limited
with injuries. "I really didn't like the way they were playing in
the first half and the way they were playing offense. In the first
half, these guys just thought they were going to rely on talent and
just go score."
In the second half, they actually did.
The Gators rattled off a 19-6 run after the Tigers built their
biggest lead of the game, 46-39, on Scott Pohlman's second straight
basket with just over 16 minutes left.
Nelson, scoreless and 0-for-6 from the field in the first half,
hit four straight 3s. He also had seven assists, playing much of
the first half at point guard with Greene in foul trouble.
"In the first half, I got a few open looks and they just didn't
go in," Nelson said. "My teammates got me some open looks (in the
second half) and fortunately they went down for me."
Auburn missed its next nine shots and committed four turnovers
during that stretch.
Reserve Abdou Diame, who finished with 15 points, scored 10
points down the stretch, hitting six of seven free throws.
Brent Wright, who played just 13 minutes after missing three
weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot, hit a jumper and a
3-pointer to give the Gators a 61-55 lead with 2:50 left.
"He really brings a calmness to the team when he's on the
floor," Donovan said. "His plays are the type we've been
missing."
The teams exchanged baskets and Auburn got a free throw from
Brewer. Then Harrington's long 3-pointer over Matt Bonner made it
63-61 with 1:08 remaining before Greene's free throws.
Pohlman finished with 12 points and Harrington had 11 for
Auburn. Daniels was 2-for-9 from the field and had four points, 13
below his average.
"We haven't been in a game that hasn't been close the entire
year," Ellis said. "We just came out of the gates looking sloppy
and didn't execute much at all.
"It really says a lot for them to come here to our place and
1-3 (in the league) and be able to leave with a win."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Auburn Clubhouse
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