News / Sports
Florida Gators Back in the Championship Game with Win Over UCLA
Corey Brewer scored 19 points, Chris Richard added 16 and Al Horford and Joakim Noah combined for 28 rebounds to lead the number one seeded Florida Gators past the number two seeded UCLA Bruins 76-66 for a birth in the NCAA championship game.
Horford finished with 17 boards while Noah added 11 to control the glass as Florida out-rebounded the Bruins 43-26.
Both teams relied on a pressure defense in the opening half and neither offense could find a rhythm. Florida’s first field goal didn’t drop until Taurean Green hit a three-pointer nearly eight minutes into the game. UCLA had a tough time finding the bucket early on as well, hitting just two from the floor in the first ten minutes of the half.
Florida was able to lean on Brewer for offensive support throughout the first half and his three-pointer with 6:55 remaining in the opening frame gave the Gators a 16-14 lead. After Josh Shipp pulled the Bruins even with a jumper Brewer answered with another triple to start a 13-4 run and UCLA could never recoup.
The Bruins scored the final three points of the half to cut a nine point deficit to 29-23 but the second half would present the same shooting woes for UCLA.
Lorenzo Mata scored the opening bucket in the second half for the Bruins but Lee Humphrey drilled a three-pointer to boost the Gators lead back to seven. Michael Roll answered with a three of his own for UCLA but Humphrey hit another triple to start a 12-0 run, giving Florida a 44-28 lead.
Chris Richard extended the lead to 68-50 with 4:11 left in the game and the Bruins had nothing left to mount a comeback.
The victory places the Gators back in the championship game for the second consecutive year. It was a victory over the Bruins last year that brought Florida its first ever NCAA basketball title and by beating them this year they will have the opportunity to face Ohio State in the championship game on Monday.
Florida will try to become the first team to repeat as national champions since Duke accomplished the feat in 1992. The Gators are also trying to become the first team to repeat as national champions with the same starting five from the previous season.
