TOP 25/SEC MEN

Gators flatten Cats, hurt Noel

— If there were any questions about Florida’s status in the SEC following a loss at Arkansas last week, the Gators put those to rest Tuesday night with another lopsided victory in league play.

And it came against defending national champion Kentucky, which had freshman star Nerlens Noel go down with a knee injury.

Scottie Wilbekin had 14 points and eight assists, Pat Young added 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks and No. 7 Florida handled the 25thranked Wildcats 69-52.

The Gators (20-3, 10-1 SEC) snapped a five-game losing streak in the series and improved to 12-0 at home.

This one solidified Florida’s spot atop the SEC.

“They’re an outstanding basketball team,” Kentucky Coach John Calipari said. “They were last year, they are this year. They’re well coached, they’re talented, they’re very physical. Their guards are just jerking balls out of our guys’ hands. We couldn’t get near the basket on Young. He just physically took away the rim. And they’re very active.”

The Wildcats (17-7, 8-3) lost for the first time in six games, and it may have been costly.

Noel, the nation’s leading shot-blocker, injured his left knee in the second half and was taken to a campus hospital for tests.

Noel, a forward who averages 10.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.5 blocks a game, landed awkwardly on his leg with about eight minutes to play. He screamed in pain as trainers rushed to his side. Teammates carried him to the locker room. After the game, trainers pushed him through the halls of the O’Connell Center in a wheelchair and with his left leg in a brace.

“I’m physically sick right now for him,” Calipari said. “What I’m hoping is it’s not the extreme. I’m hoping it’s some sort of twist, but we don’t know.”

Florida had a comfortable lead before the injury.

The Gators opened a 31-19 lead in the first half on consecutive three-pointers by Wilbekin, Mike Rosario and Kenny Boynton - shots that frustrated Calipari and had his players looking dazed and confused.

Florida extended it to 16 points on Rosario’s layup. It was the biggest deficit the Wildcats had faced all season.

And they did little to erase it.

Young and fellow big man Erik Murphy, who was in early foul trouble, carried the load in the second half.

Young made a basket with an up-and-under move, had a reverse layup and added a left handed hook.

“When he gives incredible effort and plays with a really good motor, he’s capable of getting double-doubles every night,” said Florida Coach Billy Donovan, who improved to 2-7 against Calipari. “He rebounded. He made great effort plays, kept balls alive. He did a really good job.”

Murphy made a threepointer after taking a charge. He also had three blocks.

ALABAMA 52, GEORGIA 45

ATHENS, Ga. - Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper hit back-to-back threepointers in the closing minutes, leading Alabama to a victory that ended Georgia’s five-game winning streak.

The Crimson Tide (16-8, 8-3 SEC) won for the eighth time in 10 games with another stifling defensive effort. Alabama has held nine consecutive SEC opponents to less than 60 points, limiting the Bulldogs to 31 percent (16 of 52) from the field.

Georgia (12-12, 6-5) went more than 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half.

TOP 25 NO. 8 MICHIGAN ST. 75, NO. 4 MICHIGAN 52

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Gary Harris scored 17 points and Derrick Nix had 14 to help No. 8 Michigan State rout No. 4 Michigan, the rivalry’s first matchup of top 10 teams.

The Spartans (21-4, 10-2 Big Ten) broke a first-place tie in the conference with No. 1 Indiana.

The Wolverines (21-4, 8-4) have lost three of four.

Michigan State didn’t trail once, led by as many as 16 points in the first half and enjoyed 30-point leads in the second half.

Trey Burke scored 18 points for the Wolverines.

Sports, Pages 26 on 02/13/2013

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