The Florida Gators (22-5, 11-2) got one step closer to winning the SEC East after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs (18-9, 7-6) 71-62 at the O’Connell Center on Thursday night to sweep the season series.
Senior forward Chandler Parsons showed no signs of the injury that kept him out of the LSU game on Sunday. Despite coming off the bench, the White Mamba finished with 16 points on seven for 12 from the field (two for five from beyond the arc), seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.
Mark Gottfried, the game’s commentator and former Alabama head coach, said the White Mamba should be in the running for SEC Player of the Year.
I must tip my hat to Georgia coach Mark Fox: He had his team ready to play in the game.
After spending the first few minutes of the game trading baskets, the Bulldogs went on an 11-2 run, capped by a three with sophomore guard Sherrard Brantley. Following a timeout, the Gators cut the deficit to 21-16 after a pair of made baskets by sophomore guard Kenny Boynton and senior forward Alex Tyus.
Junior guard Travis Leslie’s and-one, after a foul by freshman center Patric Young, gave Georgia a 31-20 with 3:24 remaining in the half. The Gators managed to cut the deficit to 33-26 after Tyus scored on a put back with one second remaining.
The veteran Gators picked up the intensity in the second half, as they outscored Georgia 45-29 to end the game.
The White Mamba opened the half with a pair of baskets to cut Georgia’s lead to 33-30. The Gators were finally able to tie the game when redshirt senior center Vernon Macklin tied the game with a little over 13 minutes to play in the game.
A few minutes later, Boynton’s and-one gave Florida a 52-46 lead with nine minutes and change remaining.
Senior forward Jeremy Price matched Boynton’s and-one, cutting Florida’s lead to three.
The Orange and Blue picked up the pace a bit and opened up a 63-53 lead, thanks to a pair of three from Boynton and a bucket from Tyus.
Florida’s latest run forced Fox to burn his final timeout in hopes of stopping Florida’s hot hand. With 2:38 remaining in the contest, the Bulldogs were able to make one final push as they trailed 63-59.
Following a foul from Tyus, junior forward Trey Thompkins missed a pair of free throws which permanently sealed Georgia’s fate.
Boynton lead the Orange and Blue with 18 points and four assists, but shot five for 14 from the field. (Note: Hey, at least he didn’t Bosh, not botch, the game with a 1-18 performance.)
Junior guard Erving Walker scored 15 points on five of 14 shooting, and pulled down four rebounds.
Leslie paced Georgia with 20 points (8-14 shooting), six rebounds and four assists.
Thompkins pulled down a team high seven rebounds and finished with 16 points on 7-16 from the field.
The Orange and Blue, who are on a six game winning streak, will need a healthy Mamba as they conclude the regular season with a trip to No. 22 Kentucky, a home contest (Senior night) against SEC West leader Alabama and a trip to No. 18 Vanderbilt.
The Gators will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Lexington to battle No. 22 Kentucky at 3 pm CT on CBS.
Kristin Cavallari Brittany Murphy Britney Spears Amanda Swisten Scarlett Chorvat
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