Alabama breaks streak against Florida with win in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Alabama coach Avery Johnson is ebullient by nature. But the first-year coach had even more reasons to smile following the Crimson Tide's 61-55 win over the Florida Gators at the O'Connell Center.
Alabama snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Gators dating back to 2008, and won at the O'Dome for the first time since 1995.
The Tide did it with defense, holding Florida to a season-low 28.6 percent from the field and just 3 of 21 from 3-point range. Alabama junior center Jimmie Taylor protected the rim throughout the game, finishing with 11 points and five blocks.
"It was a pretty good, complete game for our team," Johnson said. "We came into the game trying to accomplish certain strategic and specific things defensively. Fortunately, we were able to accomplish a lot of our goals, one of which was (defending) the 3-point line."
As for Taylor's performance, Johnson said: "He's been a new man over the last 10 days. I don't know if he's been eating something different. Maybe he's gone from barbecue ribs to grilled chicken, boneless chicken. But he's been a different person."
Somehow, Alabama overcame its starting guards, Retin Obasohan and Arthur Edwards, both fouling out with more than five minutes remaining. Johnson credited sophomore point guard Justin Coleman's poise in running the team down the stretch and beating UF's press.
"He did a nice job of controlling our team, getting us in our sets," Johnson said.
Also, Florida grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Tide 54-35. But Alabama's second-shot defense was it stout at its first, holding Florida to just 11 second-chance points. Florida coach Mike White thought the 6-foot-10 Taylor's length inside was the difference, which forced UF to miss a number of shots close to the basket.
"He was the most dominant player on the floor tonight," White said.
Alabama trailed 27-23 at halftime, but the Tide took some momentum into the locker room when Coleman banked-in a 30-foot, 3-point attempt at the first half buzzer. It carried over into the second half. Alabama shot 60 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes and took control of the game with a 7-0 second half run, taking a 47-41 lead with an Obasohan jumper with 6:34 left.
Obasohan led Alabama with 15 points, but fouled out with 5:35 left. Redshirt senior guard Arthur Edwards then fouled out with 5:22 left for Alabama and the Tide up 48-45. But Alabama allowed just one field goal the remainder of the game, a dunk from Florida freshman guard KeVaughn Allen.
"Breaking (Florida's) 11-game winning streak, it's incredible," Coleman said. "It's tremendous for the program and tremendous for our fans."
Alabama (15-9, 6-6 SEC) has won five of its last six games and continues to make a strong case for an NCAA Tournament at large berth. But Johnson said he's just focused on Alabama's next game Wednesday at LSU.
"The only bubble we're talking about is my bubble gum in practice," Johnson said.
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