Gators Top Hogs Behind Big 2nd Half
By: U of A Media Relations
Updated: February 23, 2013
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Junior Coty Clarke scored 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting for the University of Arkansas basketball team at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday evening in a 71-54 loss to the No. 5/4 Florida Gators.
Arkansas (17-10, 8-6 SEC) had Florida (22-4,
12-2 SEC) close at the break, but an early rally after the break allowed the
Gators to pull away and pick up the home win.
"It was a tale of two halves," Arkansas head
coach Mike Anderson said. "We scratched and clawed and gave ourselves a chance,
even with some adversity with the early fouls. In the second half, Florida
really attacked the glass and we didn't make
shots.
Florida jumped out with 11 quick points out
of halftime to take an 11-point lead into the first media timeout of the second
half. That lead grew to as many as 20 midway through the final period as
Arkansas struggled with foul trouble and a hot shooting performance for the
Gators.
Clarke did yeoman's work for the Razorbacks,
scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half, but was not able to get
consistent scoring around him to overcome the Florida attack which hit 46
percent of its shots for the game and 53 percent in the second half. Clarke
also added a team high seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Bell was
Arkansas' outside threat, hitting four three-point baskets for the second
straight game to tally 14 points.
"(Clarke) was a warrior," Anderson said.
"He was fighting and active and playing to
win."
The Gators began the game on a 7-0 run over
the opening 2-plus minutes, but the Razorbacks weathered the initial storm by
Florida and went on a 5-0 run of its own to close the gap to 7-5 just two
minutes later. The game would remain close throughout the first half despite
several runs by the home squad, but each Florida spurt was matched by an
Arkansas counter and the teams went into the locker room with a four-point game,
32-28. Marshawn Powell led the Razorbacks with seven points, despite limited
time with foul trouble, while Clarke and Bell each accounted for six in the
opening 20 minutes.
Freshman Michael Qualls matched Clarke's
rebounding with seven boards and added a pair of assists. Four Florida players
scored in double digits, led by Mike Rosario who accounted for
15.
The Razorbacks remain on the road for their
next contest, a Wednesday night affair in Baton Rouge, La., against the LSU
Tigers.
