National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Florida 61, Alabama 51
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 16, 2013
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Officials: # Patrick Adams, # Antinio Petty, # Doug Shows
Attendance: N/A

No. 11 Florida 61, Alabama 51:
Kenny Boynton scored all of his 16 points in the second half as the top-seeded Gators took down the Crimson Tide in the semifinals of the SEC tournament at Nashville, Tenn.

Patric Young collected 13 points and nine rebounds and Mike Rosario added 10 points for Florida (26-6), which will face Mississippi in the championship game on Sunday.

Trevor Releford scored 12 points and Trevor Lacey and Nick Jacobs chipped in 11 apiece as Alabama (21-12) fell to the Gators for the second time in the last 14 days. The Crimson Tide could have used a signature win over a ranked team to impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee and will have to sweat out the announcement of the field on Sunday.

Alabama took a 28-25 lead into the half and opened the second period with a 9-2 burst to stretch the lead to double digits. The Gators started to find a rhythm at the free-throw line and scored on nine straight possessions as part of a 20-3 run to take control.

Boynton’s 3-pointer with 8:14 left gave Florida a 50-42 lead, and the Gators would stretch it to as much as 56-46 when Casey Prather tipped in Erik Murphy’s miss with 3:22 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Florida beat Mississippi 78-64 in the regular season. The Gators are trying to win their first SEC tournament since 2007. … Murphy, who recorded career highs in points (27) and rebounds (12) in Friday’s quarterfinal win over LSU, was held to six points and five boards. … Alabama has dropped four of its last seven games.
Top Game Performances
 
Alabama   Florida
Trevor Releford 12 Scoring Kenny Boynton 16
Trevor Lacey 2 Assists Scottie Wilbekin 4
Moussa Gueye 5 Rebounds Patric Young 9
Trevor Releford 4 Free Throws Made Mike Rosario 3
N/A Steals Scottie Wilbekin 3
Moussa Gueye 1 Blocks Michael Frazier II 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Alabama 51 45.2 6-12 7-12 5 25 1 0 12
Florida 61 44.2 3-17 12-18 9 28 2 7 4