• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Gators bounce back, blast LSU in SEC quarters

Mar 16, 2013 - 5:07 AM Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Erik Murphy had 27 points and 12 rebounds in No. 13 Florida's 80-58 rout of LSU in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

The top-seeded Gators (25-6) had lost three of their last six games -- all by six points or less -- coming in.

Murphy was 11-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

"Shots were falling today, so it always feels good," Murphy said.

Charles Carmouche netted 14 points to lead the Tigers (19-12), who downed Georgia in the first round.

"Florida did exactly what they needed to do and the type of team that they are, I think you have to be at your best," LSU head coach Johnny Jones said.

Scottie Wilbekin added 16 points for Florida, which will play Alabama in Saturday's semifinals.

Carmouche's 3-pointer pulled LSU within 18-17 midway through the opening half, but Florida netted the next nine points to open up a double-digit advantage. Wilbekin had five points during the surge and capped it with a triple for a 27-17 UF lead.

The Gators took a 43-28 lead into the break and broke the game wide open in the second half as they began the final 20 minutes on a 30-10 swing.

Wilbekin nailed three triples and Murphy tallied 12 points during the burst, which vaulted Florida to a 73-38 cushion with 8:35 left.

The Gators cruised the rest of the way.

Game Notes

UF's leading scorer Kenny Boynton finished with just two points on 1-of-7 from the floor ... Florida shot 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the floor and 55 percent (11-of-20) from beyond the arc.