Arkansas Arkansas/Florida Florida Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Florida and Arkansas racked up more hard fouls than easy buckets, and showed more signs of fatigue than finesse during their 40 minutes of heavy hitting Saturday.

In essence, it was a typical February game in the Southeastern Conference, and the Gators (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) were happy to escape with a 73-63 victory, even if it didn't include any style points.

Udonis Haslem scored seven of his 19 points late to lift the Gators (16-5, 6-4 SEC) to their fifth win in six tries in an ugly game that left coaches Billy Donovan and Nolan Richardson wincing.

"If this game were played in December, nobody would've had any players left," Donovan said, noting the way officiating has loosened up of late. "Nolan and I would have had to go 1-on-1, fullcourt."

That contest certainly would have had more flow.

The Razorbacks (14-8, 5-5) and Gators combined for a measly 15 points on the fast break – anemic numbers for two programs traditionally built on speed. The foul count wasn't high, but only because officials were whistling only the most heinous of hacks. In all, it made for a plodding affair that, at times, looked more like a wrestling match than basketball.

"We don't win many of those battles," Richardson said. "They're too big, too strong. We're a tiny group of guys. I thought their inside play at the end was just too much power. That was my biggest concern."

The game was decided in the final four minutes, beginning – fittingly – when Brandon Dean of Arkansas was called for an intentional foul for yanking Matt Bonner's jersey and pulling him to the ground as he went up for a layup.

Bonner hit one of two free throws, then made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, giving the Gators a 61-57 lead.

Haslem took over from there with five points to maintain the lead despite three straight baskets by Arkansas' Joe Johnson.

After Johnson's third basket made the score 66-63, Brent Wright converted a three-point play, putting the Gators up by six. Haslem sandwiched two more free throws around misses by Johnson and Carl Baker and the Gators clinched the victory.

Richardson agreed with the assessment that this was the best road game his team had played this season.

"If we play like that on the road, or at home, for the rest of the year, we'll have a real fine year," he said. "It was ours to win and ours to lose. There are times when you're just not in it, and you just lose. But to put ourselves in a position like this, I'll take that every single time."

Brett Nelson finished with 19 points and kept Florida in the game early, when Arkansas' only true big man, Larry Satchell, was clogging the middle and rendering Haslem and Wright ineffective.

There was little flow, and the frustration showed from many areas. At one point, a cup came raining from the crowd and nearly hit official Olandis Poole, who was at the center of several disputed calls and non-calls.

Later, Haslem and Satchell were given technicals for continuing to jaw after a foul was called on one trip down the floor. Satchell fouled out with 7:51 remaining, and the Razorbacks had nobody to match Wright, Bonner and Haslem down the stretch.

"No matter how they guard me, or what they say to me, I just try to stay on an even keel and keep my head in the game," Haslem said. "Down the stretch, there were plays to be made. I got it 1-on-1 in the post, and I was fortunate to make the plays."

Johnson finished with 13 points and didn't get going until the final minutes. Jannero Pargo and T.J. Cleveland scored 10 points each for the Razorbacks.

Wright, making his first start since foot surgery last month, had 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for the Gators, while Bonner finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

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Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Arkansas Clubhouse

Florida Clubhouse