No. 1 Florida stays afloat

By Mark Long - Associated Press Sports Writer     Mar 24, 2007

? Florida started slowly – again – and staved off another challenge with a late surge.

If these Gators are going to repeat, it seems they’re going to do it the hard way.

Al Horford had 16 points, seven rebounds and a key block in the final minute to help the top-seeded Gators hold off undersized Butler 65-57 Friday night.

The Gators (32-5), trying to become the first team since Duke in 1992 to win consecutive national titles, advanced to the Midwest Regional on Sunday against the Oregon-UNLV winner.

The defending national champions trailed by as many as nine points and never found their comfort zone against the scrappy Bulldogs.

But they took control in the final two minutes – thanks mostly to Horford.

The 6-foot-10 forward converted a three-point play with 2:34 remaining, then blocked a shot with 16.3 seconds remaining. He got plenty of help, too.

Corey Brewer hit a baseline jumper with 1:43 remaining that made it 59-54. Brewer later made two free throws and finished with 11 points.

Taurean Green had 17 points, and Joakim Noah finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Noah was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Noah and Horford made the most of their size advantage. They drew fouls and went a combined 17-of-21 from the line.

Butler had two players foul out, but hung tough with tight defense, few turnovers and savvy play.

Pete Campbell led Butler (29-7) with 14 points. Mike Green has 12, and A.J. Graves had 11 – all in the second half. Green and Graves, though, were a combined 1-of-9 from three-point range and had five assists and four turnovers.

The Bulldogs might have made had a chance late if not for three missed free throws – uncharacteristic for coach Todd Lickliter’s squad, which made nine in a row to start the game.

Mike Green missed two with 2:13 to play, then Graves missed one with 1:29 remaining. Butler got the rebound on Graves’ miss, but made just one more basket the rest of the way.

Florida was 6-of-6 from the stripe in the final 35 seconds.

Butler used several offensive rebounds and second-chance shots to cut into a six-point halftime deficit and had the lead in the second half.

But not enough of the outside shots that carried the team throughout the season fell. The Bulldogs finished 7-of-19 from three-point range, including 2-of-7 after the break.

Butler dictated the pace most of the way, milking the clock, making Florida defend for long possessions and getting open outside shots.

It worked early, too.

The Bulldogs used a 10-0 run – all scored by Brandon Crone – to take a 14-6 lead, then pushed it to nine points on several occasions. Campbell had back-to-back three-pointers – the second one making it 25-16 with 8:42 remaining in the half.

Butler went cold from there, at least until the second half.

Florida, meanwhile, settled into a groove offensively and defensively.

The Gators closed the first half with a 17-2 run and scored the last 13 points. The Gators had nine turnovers, but made up for them with an 18-8 rebounding advantage.

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