uab 2006 game

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Credited Source: orlandosentinel.com 12/31/06

Gator Men's Basketball - 12/31/06

Florida storms back to defeat UAB by 5

The Gators overcome an 11-point, 2nd-half deficit to upend the
Blazers 75-70

As the ball squirted away from UAB guard Paul Delaney III,
Florida's Taurean Green put on a smile.

Green raced for the ball and turned the play into a layup on the
other end, putting Florida up 72-69 with just over a minute to
play.

"He just threw it away," said Green, who finished with 18 points.
"When we put pressure on people, mistakes like that happen."

UF would shoot free throws the rest of the way, defeating UAB
75-70 Saturday night after overcoming an 11-point, second-half
deficit -- its largest of the season -- in front of a record
announced crowd of 15,709 in the Orange Bowl Classic at the
Bank Atlantic Center.

"I was really proud of our guys," UF Coach Billy Donavan said. "I
think our guys showed great toughness to find a way to win."

Although the Gators would leave the victor, the game revealed a
flaw that UF thought it lost against Ohio State -- inconsistency.

UF came out sluggish. Joakim Noah and Al Horford didn't erupt
until the second half. And the Gators' defense was, at times,
absent -- especially from beyond the arc, where the Blazers shot
50 percent.

"Nobody's good enough to turn it on and turn it off," said UF
forward Corey Brewer, who finished with a team-high 19 points.
"If we don't correct the problem, teams will continue to expose
us."

It wasn't until a minute into the second half when the Gators
began to show their championship form. Trailing 44-33, UF went
on a 9-2 run, which included a behind-the-back dunk from Noah.
From there, it was a back-and-forth battle. In the end, it was the
Gators, anchored by Noah and solid defense, which forced two
critical Blazers turnovers in the game's final minutes.

Donovan said teams such as UAB (8-6) should not be judged by its record, because the chance to knock
off the defending champs adds extra motivation.

"We're going to get everybody's best shot," Donovan said.

But the effect of a national title has stemmed further than that.

Noah said this season has been draining, that just walking down the street, going to classes and trying to
have his best performance each night is wearing on him.

Even still, the Gators are welcoming the challenge.

"Any time you gain something in life, there is something you're going to lose," Donovan said.

So although struggles continue for the Gators, they still enter SEC play at 12-2 and ranked No. 3. UF will
host Liberty on Tuesday night before starting SEC play against Georgia on Saturday.

All the players are healthy. And, despite another spotty game, the Gators came out on top. "We're not
winning pretty, but we're winning," Noah said. "I'm not going to whine and moan when we're winning."