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Top-ranked Gators looking for 17th straight

Nov 24, 2006 - 3:45 PM Westrn Kentucky (4-0) at No. 1 Florida (5-0) 10:30 pm EST

LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- Defending national champion Florida likely will get its first real test of the year when it faces Western Kentucky and Kansas on back-to-back nights at the Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Casino.

The top-ranked Gators have rattled off five wins by an average of 42 points and will try to match the school record with their 17th straight win when they hook up with an unbeaten Western Kentucky squad Friday.

The 2005-06 Gators also won 17 straight during its championship run.

Joakim Noah had 19 points and Al Horford added 13 and 11 rebounds in Florida's 94-33 thumping over Prairie View on Tuesday. The Gators shot 61 percent (32-of-61) and held Prairie View to 22 percent (12-of-54).

The Hilltoppers will be a formidable foe. They made 11 3-pointers in a 95-72 victory over Towson on Tuesday. Courtney Lee scored 21 points and Orlando Mendez-Valdez added 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Western Kentucky, which is shooting 52 percent, posted a 70-67 victory over Georgia on November 14.

Florida beat Western Kentucky, 69-56, in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament in the only meeting between the teams.