Florida escapes 'Bama, runs streak to 10
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tuscaloosa, AL (SportsNetwork.com) - Michael Frazier scored 18 points, Casey Prather had 14 and No. 6 Florida held on to beat Alabama 68-62 on Thursday.
Scottie Wilbekin added 10 points for the Gators (16-2, 5-0 SEC), who pushed their winning streak to 10 games. They have won eight in a row over Alabama.
Trevor Releford had 14 points to lead Alabama (8-10, 2-3) and Nick Jacobs scored 12.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Crimson Tide have lost three of four. They cut their deficit from nine points to five after Levi Randolph scored four of his 11 points in a matter of seconds near the end of the game.
He made two free throws, stole the ball from Kasey Hill, then knocked down two more from the line with 1:07 remaining to get the Crimson Tide within 62-57.
But the Gators made their foul shots down the stretch to hang on, winning for the 15th time in their last 16 games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Their only loss in the last 16 games came Dec. 2 to Connecticut on Shabazz Napier's buzzer-beater.
Florida's seniors earned their 100th win.
"It's a great accomplishment," said Prather. "It humbles us knowing that we have so far to go, but we have also come so far since our freshman year."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Florida's Billy Donovan bested Alabama's Anthony Grant to improve to 13-2 against his former assistant coaches. Grant served under Donovan from 1996-2006.
"They are a great basketball team," said Grant. "They are the sixth-ranked team in the country for a reason."
Dorian Finney-Smith and Frazier made back-to-back 3-pointers to cap an 11-4 Florida run to open the first half. Alabama never led but stayed within single digits most of the game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Gators had a 33-26 lead at halftime and went up by a game-high 12 with 8:57 remaining after Finney-Smith hit a 3 and Hill followed with a layup.
Game Notes
The Crimson Tide out-shot the Gators 38.6 percent to 37.7 percent but the Gators made 10 3-pointers (10-of-28) ... Will Yeguete and Finney-Smith both had 11 rebounds for Florida ... Alabama leads the all-time series 73-63 but Florida is 20-5 against the Crimson Tide under Donovan ... Both teams play again Saturday at home. Florida hosts Tennessee and Alabama hosts LSU.