Gainesville, FL – Mike Rosario led a balanced attack with 15 points as fifth-ranked Florida avenged one of its two SEC losses this season with a 71-54 triumph over Arkansas.
The Razorbacks rolled to an 80-69 victory over the Gators on Feb. 5, but in the rematch the conference-leaders had four starters reach double figures. Patric Young added 14 points, while Erik Murphy and Kenny Boynton each netted 12 for Florida (22-4, 12-2 SEC), which bounced back from a 63-60 loss at Missouri on Tuesday and moved to 13-0 at home this season.
"We respected them more," Young said. "The last time we didn't respect them when we went to their place. We were probably a little complacent. Tonight we took on the challenge. We really wanted to get these guys back."
Coty Clarke totaled 18 points and Anthlon Bell scored 14 in a reserve role for Arkansas (17-10, 8-6), which had a three-game winning streak broken.
B.J. Young, who had a team-leading 13 points in the Razorbacks' win over the Gators earlier this month, was limited to three on 0-of-8 shooting from the field on Saturday.
"It was a tale of two halves," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. "We scratched and clawed and gave ourselves a chance, even with some adversity with the early fouls. In the second half, Florida really attacked the glass and we didn't make shots."
Rickey Scott went 1-of-2 from the foul line 30 seconds into the second half to bring the Razorbacks within 34-29, but the Gators ran off the next nine points and were up double digits the rest of the way. Boynton started the run with a 3-pointer and Patric Young capped it with a dunk.
Florida, which was ahead as many as 21 points in the second half, never let Arkansas lead the entire game. The Gators scored the contest's first seven points.
Even though the Razorbacks forged a tie at 8-8, the Gators kept up the pressure on defense. Ahead 14-13, the hosts netted the ensuing nine points, finished by a Boynton jumper with 9:10 left in the half.
It was 32-28 in Florida's favor at the break.
Game Notes
Florida guard Michael Frazier II left the court to get checked out after a defensive collision in the second half. He suffered a concussion and will be sidelined indefinitely ... Arkansas shot 36.2 percent from the field, including 6-of-27 from 3-point range ... The Gators are 9-2 at home all-time against Arkansas and 9-0 under head coach Billy Donovan in such games.
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