It wasn't easy, but Florida started Southeastern Conference play on the right note.
Erving Walker led four Florida scorers in double figures with 20 points, lifting the Gators to a 77-71 win over Ole Miss at the O'Connell Center.
Kenny Boynton and Chandler Parsons added 17 points apiece for the Gators (12-3, 1-0 SEC). Vernon Macklin had 16 points.
Point guard Chris Warren led Ole Miss, scoring all 20 of his points in the second half.
Florida let a 12-point second-half lead slip away, trailing 53-51 after a hook shot in the lane from Ole Miss forward Terrance Henry. But Florida kept its composure late. Walker and Boynton combined to score Florida's final 16 points.
After a tight first 16 minutes featured six ties and eight lead changes, Florida closed the half with a 13-2 run. Parsons and Walker hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Florida ahead 31-26. Off a Macklin steal, freshman Scottie Wilbekin followed with a breakaway layup to extend the UF lead to 33-26.
Macklin then dunked and freshman Patric Young made one of two free throws to put Florida up 36-26. After Graham hit a runner in the lane to cut the Florida lead to 36-28, Parsons answered with a nifty shot-fake and 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Florida up 39-28 at halftime.
The Gators shot 50 percent from the field (15-30) and 42.9 percent from 3-point range (3-7) in the first half. Florida held Warren scoreless in the first half.
Kenny Boynton and Chandler Parsons added 17 points apiece for the Gators (12-3, 1-0 SEC). Vernon Macklin had 16 points.
Point guard Chris Warren led Ole Miss, scoring all 20 of his points in the second half.
Florida let a 12-point second-half lead slip away, trailing 53-51 after a hook shot in the lane from Ole Miss forward Terrance Henry. But Florida kept its composure late. Walker and Boynton combined to score Florida's final 16 points.
After a tight first 16 minutes featured six ties and eight lead changes, Florida closed the half with a 13-2 run. Parsons and Walker hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Florida ahead 31-26. Off a Macklin steal, freshman Scottie Wilbekin followed with a breakaway layup to extend the UF lead to 33-26.
Macklin then dunked and freshman Patric Young made one of two free throws to put Florida up 36-26. After Graham hit a runner in the lane to cut the Florida lead to 36-28, Parsons answered with a nifty shot-fake and 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Florida up 39-28 at halftime.
The Gators shot 50 percent from the field (15-30) and 42.9 percent from 3-point range (3-7) in the first half. Florida held Warren scoreless in the first half.
