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College basketball

Gators are greater at home

FLORIDA 96, S. CAROLINA 63: Bench leads team to school record for consecutive home wins.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 26, 2003

GAINESVILLE -- How bad did things get Tuesday night for South Carolina at the O'Connell Center?

By the time the game ended, bench-warmers were hitting long-range 3-pointers from the corner and making no-look passes for layups.

Aided by 31 points from its bench and the best shooting night under the seven-year reign of coach Billy Donovan, Florida defeated South Carolina 96-63 in front of 11,699.

Florida (23-4, 11-2 SEC) set a school record with its 19th consecutive home win. It was the worst defeat for the Gamecocks (11-13, 3-9) since a 25-point loss to Duke last season.

"We were beaten by a really good Florida team, clearly a much better team than we are now," South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. "We were soundly beaten in every statistical department. When you come into a game like this, you know they are going to hit 3s, but 12 is exceptional by any standard."

Florida was 12-of-18 from 3-point range and shot 64.2 percent from the field after starting out 0-for-5. The Gators missed six shots in the second half (21-of-27) and scored 61, three shy of the school record set in December 1988 against LSU.

"It was one of those nights where we were clicking on all cylinders offensively," Donovan said. "One of those nights when they were all falling."

By game's end, the only thing that kept Gator fans excited was the lure of a free Big Mac or Egg McMuffin -- a bonus for all ticket-holders when Florida scores at least 90 and wins.

When freshman Christian Drejer (10 points, four rebounds, four assists) hit the first of two free throws with 1:20 left, the crowd erupted as if UF just won a championship.

"We had six guys in double figures and two more almost in double figures," senior Matt Bonner said. "Everybody was a part of it and that makes it really fun."

It wasn't fun early.

The Gators opened the game shooting 16 percent in the first five minutes and committing two of their eight first-half turnovers. Bonner was saddled with foul trouble and played just five minutes in the first half, scoring four of his game-high 18.

"In the first half, they were very disruptive in their defensive scheme, the first 10 minutes," Donovan said.

But the disruption didn't last long. With Bonner on the bench and reserves Bonell Colas, Brett Nelson and Drejer on the floor for solid minutes, the Gators rallied.

Florida outscored South Carolina 19-4 in the final 5:26 of the first half to take a 35-23 halftime lead. The Gators opened the second half shooting 8-of-10 and 4-of-4 from 3-point range.

"They killed us on the outside and they killed us from the inside," South Carolina center Tony Kitchings said. "They are just a better team at home than on the road -- which most teams are. ... They just played a perfect game and showed why they are No.4 in the country."

The offense was stellar, but Donovan was just as excited about the defensive effort.

In their previous game last month, Kitchings scored 22, but was held to just four Tuesday night. Forward Carlos Powell came in averaging 13 points, but scored just six. Chuck Eidson averaged 11.7 points and 4.6 assists, but was held to five points and two assists.

"I thought from an offensive and defensive team effort, it was the best performance we've had this year," Donovan said. "I told them in the locker room, this is the way I envisioned our basketball team being able to play. I'm happy that we played a game like this so they can see themselves and what they are able to do."

Sophomore forward David Lee, who was dominated by Kitchings and Rolando Howell (16 points, six rebounds) in the first meeting with the Gamecocks and spent much of the game in foul trouble, scored 17 and had eight rebounds. Senior guard Justin Hamilton had 12, Anthony Roberson added 10 and Colas led all reserves with 11.

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