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South Alabama Sends No. 18 Florida To Third Straight Loss
December 22 - Gainesville, FL (Sports Network) - DeAndre Hersey’s basket with 1.8 seconds to play gave South Alabama a 67-66 win over 18th-ranked Florida at Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Tim Williams had a game-high 21 points and added seven rebounds while Hersey finished with seven points and five boards for the Jaguars (9-4), who have won two of their last three.
Alex Tyus netted 16 points and grabbed seven boards while Kenny Boynton had 14 points for the Gators (8-3), who have dropped their past three games after an unblemished start to the season.
With Florida holding a 66-63 lead, Williams hit two free throws to make it a one-point game with 55 seconds to play. Chandler Parsons followed with a missed jumper on the Gators' end and South Alabama called timeout with 12.7 to play.
After the inbounds, Williams drove the lane and attempted a layup, but it hit off the rim. Hersey, though, came up with the offensive board and put the ball in with 1.8 seconds left.
Erving Walker’s desperation three-pointer from just before mid-court fell short as South Alabama gained the upset.
The score was tied at 43 starting the second half and the close play continued over the final 20 minutes.
Holding a one-point lead, the Jaguars got a jumper from Williams followed by a three-pointer from Hersey for a 60-54 lead with under nine minutes to play.
After Gary Redus made a free throw for a seven-point advantage, Tyus slammed for two, Vernon Macklin followed with a three-point play and Tyus tied the game with two from the line with five minutes to play.
Williams then hit a jumper, but Parsons made 5-of-6 from the line for the game’s only points over the next two minutes for a 66-63 Florida lead.
The biggest lead of the first half was a six-point advantage for South Alabama when Williams hit a three-pointer with 11 1/2 minutes to play.
Florida was able to cut the deficit and take the lead after Walker’s layup with 5 1/2 minutes to play made it a 32-30 contest.
The teams exchanged baskets from there to end in a tie entering the second half.
Florida hosts American University next Monday...South Alabama plays at FIU on New Year’s Eve...Each team has won twice in the all-time series...Macklin finished the game with 13 points and seven boards for Florida.
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