NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points and sixth-seeded Florida routed No. 19 Alabama 102-88 Friday evening in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Meeting Tournament.
With losses by frequent year champ Tennessee and No. 2 seed Kentucky previously Friday, this marked the to start with time the SEC’s prime 3 seeds all misplaced their tournament openers given that 1983. That match was played in Birmingham, Alabama, and Ga won the title and wound up achieving the Remaining 4.
Zyon Pullin added 19 factors, Tyrese Samuel experienced 18, Alex Condon 12 and Will Richard had 10 for Florida (23-10). The Gators will facial area No. 7 seed Texas A&M, a 97-87 winner in excess of ninth-ranked Kentucky, in the semifinals Saturday.
This is Florida’s first berth in the semifinals because 2019 and second due to the fact profitable its final SEC Match title in 2014. The Gators have gained this tournament four times.
“Alabama’s a great team, but we beat them quite easily tonight and I thought it was a good effort from our group,” Florida coach Todd Golden mentioned.
Alabama (21-11) arrived in getting won the SEC regular-time title and match championship two of the earlier three several years underneath mentor Nate Oats. Now the Crimson Tide is heading property early to get started planning for Sunday’s NCAA Tournament bracket announcement.
Mark Sears led Alabama with 22 factors. Aaron Estrada extra 17, Nick Pringle finished with 12 and Grant Nelson had 11.
The Crimson Tide scored the first eight points. Florida tied it up at 17 and yet again at 31. Then the Gators seized control with a 21-2 operate to complete the 50 percent and acquire a 48-33 lead into the locker area.
“We’ve got to be improved,” Oats claimed. “I’ve bought to do a improved occupation. Possibly I in all probability should’ve named a timeout in the middle of that six minutes there at the close of the half.”
The Gators started out the 2nd half wherever they left off, scoring the first 4 factors and avoiding an additional sluggish start off.
“Obviously a concerning commence heading down 8- in the initial two minutes,” Golden mentioned of the Gators’ slow get started. “But immediately after that, I assumed we played fantastic the rest of the way.”
Florida led by as significantly as 82-58 on its way to scoring 100 factors versus Alabama for a second straight activity involving the groups.
Oats stated his players have to make your mind up how lousy they want to acquire the NCAA Event, which means enjoying defense for a whole 40 minutes.
“You decide to take 24 minutes off on the defensive conclude, it’s likely to be challenging to defeat any one in the NCAA Tournament,” Oats reported.
Significant Photograph
Florida: The Gators break up in the course of the regular time with Alabama, getting rid of 98-93 in overtime on the road and profitable 105-87 in Gainesville. The Gators innovative to the quarterfinals with an 85-80 victory above Ga in the opening round. … They had a large edge at the absolutely free throw line, knocking down 31 of 36 when compared to 16 of 23 for Alabama.
Alabama: Oats now is 7-2 in SEC Event online games. He has signed an extension that will go to the Board of Regents subsequent week. … Latrell Wrightsell, in his second recreation immediately after returning from a concussion, was for 4 from 3-point assortment. Ryland Griffen, who missed the past normal-time game with a strained calf, went 1 of 5.
UP Subsequent
Florida lost 67-66 at Texas A&M all through the regular period.
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