HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Florida 78, Minnesota 64: Mike Rosario made a career-high six 3-pointers and scored a season-high 25 points to lead the third-seeded Gators in the third round of the NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas.

Erik Murphy scored his 15 points in the first half and Scottie Wilbekin added 12 points and six assists for Florida (28-7), which will play No. 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast in the South Regional semifinals next week in Arlington, Texas.

Andre Hollins scored 25 points for 11th-seeded Minnesota, but went to the bench with his fourth foul during a key second-half stretch. Trevor Mbakwe added 11 points, and Rodney Williams and Austin Hollis scored 10 apiece for the Golden Gophers (21-13).

Florida shot 65.2 percent en route to building a 48-27 halftime lead, a school record for the most points scored in a half at the NCAA Tournament. The Gators did not take a 2-point shot for nearly eight minutes in the first half, but still increased their lead from nine to 22 points during that span.

The Golden Gophers made a push early in the second half to get within seven, but Andre Hollins went to the bench with his fourth foul with 9:21 left and his team trailing 59-50. Minnesota didn’t make a field goal during the 3:37 Hollins was out of the game and Florida was able to extend its lead back to 12.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Florida coach Billy Donovan improved to 30-10 in NCAA Tournament play. … The Big Ten fell to 10-2 in the tournament. … The Gators entered the game with the nation’s top scoring margin (+18.4), but 0-6 in games decided by less than 10 points this season.