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Gators cruise by 58

[AP photo] Florida's Justin Hamilton, right, looks to move around Florida Atlantic's Clay Fuller during the first half Monday in Gainesville.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2000

GAINESVILLE -- Florida guard Teddy Dupay, his team leading by 40 points at halftime, knew the game was over. But the Gators' work Monday night was only half finished.

Looking to play two solid halves, No. 10 UF maintained its intensity throughout a 100-42 rout of Florida Atlantic before 8,055 at the O'Connell Center.

It was UF's home opener.

"We've had trouble playing two good halves," Dupay said. "The game was definitely out of reach, but that's when you have to generate your own emotion. That's when you have to show your maturity."

The 58-point margin of victory was UF's second-largest at the O'Dome, fourth-largest overall. The largest was 121-54 against Roosevelt in 1975.

Florida (2-0) is 67-15 in home openers and has won 10 straight. The Gators have won 15 straight against non-conference opponents at home, a streak that will be tested Saturday by DePaul.

"We got a big lead and except for a stretch of about four minutes in the second half, our guys played with great intensity and great passion," coach Billy Donovan said.

After DePaul, the Gators play at No. 3 Michigan State on Dec. 6, a rematch of last season's national-title game won by the Spartans, and against Rutgers on Dec. 9.

Florida Atlantic (1-4) was no match for the Gators, who jumped to a 10-2 lead and never trailed. The Owls committed 27 turnovers leading to 40 UF points.

Dupay, coming off a career-high 27 points in the season-opening victory at Florida State, was perfect in the first five minutes, hitting two three-pointers and three free throws as Florida opened a 20-4 lead. FAU, which played seven freshmen, did not hit double figures until Jeff Hamilton's basket with 5:27 left.

UF led 57-17 at halftime.

"I want to thank the University of Florida for giving us the opportunity to see what big-time basketball is all about," said Florida Atlantic coach Sidney Green, a teammate of Donovan's on the 1987-88 New York Knicks. "I'm sure we're going to take this loss, put it in our hip pocket and take it out on our next opponent."

Florida sophomore forward Matt Bonner had a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for his first double double. He was joined in double figures by Dupay (17), Brent Wright (17), Udonis Haslem (17) and Justin Hamilton (12).

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