Live Blog: No. 4 Florida 104, No. 5 Alabama 82
NASHVILLE — For the second straight season, No. 4 Florida and No. 5 Alabama clash in the SEC Tournament after meeting in the final week of the regular season.
The Gators (28-4) have won three straight against the Crimson Tide (25-7) and look to get back to the SEC Tournament championship game for the second year in a row.
Saturday’s meeting will be just the fourth in Florida history between AP top-five teams, the first since the 2007 national title game between No. 3 Florida vs. No. 1 Ohio State.
Below are live updates from the SEC Tournament semifinal between Florida and Alabama.
Florida vs. Alabama Live Blog
SCORE UPDATE: Florida 97, Alabama 75 (3:38 2H)
The Gators now with five players in double figures — Rueben Chinyelu has fouled out with 10 points — and have made four of their last five shots. SEC Tournament final here they come.
SCORE UPDATE: Florida 73, Alabama 57 (11:43 2H)
The Gators are shooting 51% and have made six straight shots, and the Tide (42%) have no field goals in last 2:45.
SCORE UPDATE: Florida 62, Alabama 50 (14:41 2H)
The Gators have a double-digit lead with their 15-2 run. The Tide haven’t scored in 2:11, missing eight of their last nine shots and five straight.
HALF: Florida 47, Alabama 45
Closely contested half between these two juggernauts. Walter Clayton Jr. leads all scorers with 12 points. Florida shooting 47% (18-38) and 40% from 3 (6-15), while the Tide shot 49% for the half (17-35) and 29% beyond the arc (5-17). The Gators with the edge on the boards, 22-20.
SCORE UPDATE: Alabama 42, Florida 41 (3:40 1H)
The game has been pretty even so far except for fastbreak points. The Tide have nine against zero for the Gators, who rank No. 2 nationally in fastbreak points (16.88 PPG).
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SCORE UPDATE: Alabama 35, Florida 34 (8:00 1H)
Frenetic pace so far from these two teams and both are headed for 90-plus points again. The Gators and Tide are each shooting 56% and 4-10 from downtown.
SCORE UPDATE: Alabama 25, Florida 22 (11:35 1H)
Both teams over 50% from the floor so far. The Tide with two offensive rebounds on that last possession and it led to a go-ahead 3, their fourth triple (UF has two by Walter Clayton Jr.).
SCORE UPDATE: Alabama 12, Florida 11 (15:29 1H)
Rueben Chinyelu and Will Richard both with four points early and the Gators have scored five points off both Alabama turnovers. With his first 3-pointer, Walter Clayton Jr. (1,171 points) has passed Nick Calathes (1,170) for the second-most by a Gator over two seasons in program history. Clayton only trails Neal Walk (1,312).
Florida Gators starters
| No. | Player | Position | Height/Weight | Class | Min. | Pts. | Rebs. | Misc. |
| 1 | Walter Clayton Jr. | Guard | 6-2, 195 pounds | Sr. | 32.4 | 17.3 | 3.7 | 4.4 ast |
| 15 | Alijah Martin | Guard | 6-2, 210 pounds | Gr. | 30.1 | 14.6 | 4.6 | 2.4 ast |
| 5 | Will Richard | Guard | 6-4, 206 pounds | Sr. | 31.5 | 13.4 | 4.7 | 1.7 stl |
| 21 | Alex Condon | Forward | 6-11, 230 pounds | So. | 25.0 | 11.3 | 8.0 | 2.3 ast |
| 9 | Rueben Chinyelu | Center | 6-10, 260 pounds | So. | 19.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 1.0 blk |
Alabama Crimson Tide starters
| No. | Player | Position | Height/Weight | Class | Min. | Pts. | Rebs. | Misc. |
| 1 | Mark Sears | Guard | 6-1, 190 pounds | Gr. | 32.7 | 19.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 ast |
| 0 | Labaron Philon | Guard | 6-4, 177 pounds | Fr. | 24.3 | 11.2 | 3.3 | 3.5 ast |
| 8 | Chris Youngblood | Guard | 6-4, 223 pounds | Gr. | 24.8 | 9.8 | 2.3 | 2.0 3fg |
| 4 | Grant Nelson | Forward | 6-11, 230 pounds | Gr. | 26.3 | 11.9 | 7.8 | 1.3 blk |
| 11 | Clifford Omoruyi | Center | 6-11, 250 pounds | Gr. | 19.1 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 1.0 blk |
Florida-Alabama injury report
Florida forward Sam Alexis is out for the game along with Alabama guards Houston Mallette and Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
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