Gators Put Down the Tigers, 78-70

In the O'dome on Thursday evening, the Gators faced the Auburn Tigers to try to boost the hopes for a chance to have a spot in the Tourney in March.

Erving Walker and Chandler Parsons were the star players for the Gators as Parsons scored 17 and Walker scored 14. The victory on Thursday snapped a two-game losing streak that was diminishing the chances to appear in the tournament.

The luck was not on the side of the Tigers as star player, DeWayne Reed, led the Tigers with 22 points before he fouled out within the remaining 20 seconds of the ballgame. Without Reed, the Tigers had to rely on other players to score an additional eight points in the remaining seconds to comeback from a deficit to defeat the Gators at home.

Although 22 out of 29 field goals were missed by the Tigers' Tay Walker, he still managed to score 13 for Auburn.

The Gators did not look any better from behind the arch as they missed eight out of 10 FGs in the game. Without the occasional free throws, 32 points would not have been put up on the board. The Gators only missed eight shots from the line. Florida Gators closed out the game with four free throws to further the Auburn deficit. 

Walker's 14 points from the charity stripe were much needed as those were his only points put on the board versus the Tigers. Missing shots from the line caused two Gator losses versus the Gamecocks by 14 and Xavier by 11 earlier in the season.

The Gators lead lessened as the Tigers' Waller hit three of four from behind the arch. The Gators lead by five with under six minuets left.

Although, Reed stole the show as he marched down the court to the line but his teammates could not provide assistance for a shot. The Gators, 15 for 19 in final 6:28, closed the game out with multiple free throws to advance to 7-4 in the SEC.

With just under a month until March Madness rolls around, the Gators are looking to advance to The Tourney as they face Tennessee and Ole' Miss in the upcoming days.

The Gators will play the Bulldogs in a rematch game in Athens to stop the team that seems to be on fire lately. If these key games end in victories, it could result in opportunity leading to the Final Four.

(Information collected from ESPN.com and Gatorsports.com)
By: Justin Rectenwald