TAMPA, Fla. — Florida withstood a physical game vs. UCLA, took another close one and advanced to the Sweet 16.
The second-seeded Gators (28-7) took a 73-65 win over the seventh-seeded Bruins in the third round of the Southeast Regional at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday.
Playing a bigger Bruins (23-11) lineup, the Gators got pushed around in the first half before responding in the second. They were outrebounded 20-10 before halftime, but outrebounded UCLA 22-15 in the second.
After leading by no more than six throughout the game, Florida pulled away late at the free throw line. They led 66-65 before Erving Walker hit a three-pointer and four free throws to close the game.
Florida will play the winner of Saturday night’s game between BYU and Gonzaga in New Orleans next week.
