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ATLANTA, Georgia: Taurean Green scored 11 of his 16
points in the first half as Florida became just the third team in
the last 34 years to repeat as American college champs with an 84-75
win over Ohio State.
“I will definitely enjoy
this,” said Florida coach Billy Donovan. “This team is one of
the best teams to ever play and they did it back-to-back so they
deserve a lot of credit.”
Lee Humphrey added 14 points and
Corey Brewer scored 13 for the Gators (35-5), who made 10-of-18
three-pointers in winning back-to-back NCAA basketball titles for
the first time since Duke in 1991 and 1992.
And those Blue Devils were the
only back-to-back winners since UCLA’s unparalleled streak from
1967-73.
Although Monday’s margin of
victory was not as large as the 86-60 decision that Florida had over
Ohio State (35-4) back on December 23, the Gators once again opened
the contest up with a decisive run.
“It feels great. We won again.
Yes, two years in a row,” said Brewer as the team celebrated on
the floor before heading into the locker room. “We set records and
we make history.”
In the previous meeting, the two
teams were knotted up at 40-40 with 17:05 remaining before Green’s
seven points sparked a 20-5 run that led to the rout.
Even though there still was
plenty of game remaining in this one, the Gators took control after
a three-pointer by Ivan Harris cut the Buckeyes’ deficit to 24-22
with 5:39 left to play in the first half.
With the freshman Greg Oden not
experiencing his recent early struggles with fouls, Florida turned
its attack outside, as Green hit a pair of three-pointers and
Humphrey and Brewer both added one during a 16-5 run that gave it a
cushion of 40-27 with 1:07 before the half.
While the Gators proved deadly
from the arc, the Buckeyes were ice cold from deep, missing all four
of their attempts during the spurt and finished 4-of-23 for the
game.
Although a thunderous dunk by
Oden closed the scoring in the first half, Florida led 40-29 at
intermission and improved to 28-0 this season when leading at
halftime.
Ohio State, which was in search
of its first national title since 1960, did open the second with a
7-2 run to close within 42-36. But it could not get closer as
Florida made all the big shots.
“We are going to do it big all
day and all night,” said Joakim Noah, the son of French tennis
legend Yannick Noah. “The Gator boys know what I am talking
about.”
After a three-point play by
reserve forward-center Chris Richard put the Gators ahead, 61-47,
with 8:59 left, the Buckeyes tried to charge back, going on a 13-5
run behind a jumper and three free throws by Oden.
Although the lead had been sliced
to 66-60 with less than five minutes remaining, Green answered with
a three-pointer, igniting a 9-2 run.
Oden collected 25 points, 12
rebounds and 4 blocks and fellow classmate Mike Conley added 20 for
the Buckeyes, who had their 22-game winning streak snapped.
--AFP
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