• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Florida struggles past Arkansas

Jan 10, 2007 - 7:06 AM GAINESVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Florida didn't make many of its trademark 3-pointers, but the Gators made them count.

Lee Humphrey hit two big shots from the arc in the final six minutes to help second-ranked Florida post a 79-72 victory over Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference.

The Gators (15-2, 2-0 SEC East) extended their winning streak to eight games, but they had their hands full with the Razorbacks (12-4, 1-1 SEC West).

Arkansas erased a 10-point second-half deficit with a 14-3 spurt capped by Patrick Beverley's 3-pointer for a 54-53 lead with 10:24 left.

But with Florida ahead by three, Taurean Green buried a 3-pointer and Humphrey followed with one from the arc for a 65-56 lead with 5:36 to play. To that point, the Gators were 3-of-12 from the arc and had missed all four attempts in the second half.

A layup by Beverley pulled the Razorbacks within 69-63, but Humphrey supplied the dagger, hitting another 3-pointer to make it 72-63 with 1:05 to play.

The game followed that tone throughout, with Florida repelling repeated challenges from Arkansas.

Behind seven points from guard Taurean Green, the Gators bolted to an 18-6 lead with 12:45 left in the half. The Razorbacks twice cut the deficit to four points, only to fall behind by seven with 1:22 left.

Forward Sonny Weems scored on a layup and a dunk and Gary Ervin had a follow shot just before the buzzer to bring the Razorbacks within 37-36 at halftime.

Florida opened the lead to double digits, using an 11-2 run to forge a 50-40 advantage with 13:43 remaining.

Weems and Darian Townes again rallied Arkansas, which took its first and only lead on Beverley's 3-pointer.

Green scored 17 points to lead five players in double figures for the Gators, who shot 49 percent (28-of-57) and 6-of-15 from 3-point range. Corey Brewer added 13 points and Humphrey and Joakim Noah 11 each.

Townes paced Arkansas with 18 points, including 11 in the second half, while Weems added 13.