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| Author: | Cl11234566 [ Mon Dec 23, 2019 4:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | ranks a distant second |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Dorian Finney-Smith and Scottie Wilbekin werent about to let a little thing like injuries get in the way for Florida. The banged-up Gators, playing without leading scorer Casey Prather, overcame a host of ailments and earned an 84-82 overtime win at Arkansas on Saturday. They did so behind a career-high 22 points from Finney-Smith, starting in the place of Prather, as well as a timely jumper near the end of regulation from Wilbekin -- who scored nine points in overtime as Florida (13-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) completed its comeback. Prather, averaging 17 points, missed the game because of a bone bruise in his right knee, but he was hardly the only Gator affected by injuries. Wilbekin missed two days of practice this week with a sprained ankle, and centre Patric Young also missed time with a sore knee. Wilbekin finished with 18 points for Florida, and Michael Frazier had 15 and Young 10. Finney-Smith, starting for just the second time this season, added 15 rebounds -- including nine offensive -- while also connecting on three 3-pointers. "Youre going into this game not really knowing what youre going to get," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "... I think the one guy we, at least I tried to instil just a belief and confidence was in (Finney-Smith). Just to go, be aggressive, play through mistakes." The Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2) had a chance to all but seal the win with 17.1 seconds remaining in regulation, but Alandise Harris missed the front end of a 1-and-1 to give Florida the ball back down 66-64. Wilbekin answered with the game-tying bank shot with 2 seconds left for the Gators, who then took control quickly in overtime while snapping Arkansas 23-game home winning streak. "It means a lot to us," Finney-Smith said. "It tells you about our team. We play for each other. Any given night, it can be someones night and tonight it was just me." Ky Madden led the Razorbacks with a career-high 23 points, hitting 5 of 10 3-pointers. Coty Clarke added a season-high 16 points and 14 rebounds, but neither was enough for Arkansas -- which has lost two straight for the first time this season. "We just didnt finish the deal," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. "We had opportunities at the free-throw line. We had some open shots we didnt make. We had some open shots we didnt make. "... This one hurts. Why? Because we felt we played well enough (to win)." Finney-Smith had nine points at halftime, and he continued to have the hot hand in the second half and overtime -- where he scored five straight points to put the Gators up 77-69. Following a pair of baskets from Harris, who finished with 11 points, the Razorbacks closed the Florida lead to 82-79 with 21.9 seconds remaining in overtime. However, Harris missed an inside attempt and Wilbekin -- who had nine points in overtime -- sealed the win with free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining. Michael Qualls, who finished with 10 points, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull Arkansas within 84-82. "(Harris) didnt make the play, but we also didnt make the plays and execute and win the game," Clarke said. "So, its not on him but us." The Gators took a 23-22 lead midway through the first half after a floater by Kasey Hill, but Arkansas -- which hadnt lost at home since a 91-82 defeat to Syracuse on Nov. 30, 2012 -- responded with a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the half at 32-25. Clarke, who had 13 points in the first half, matched his career high with three 3-pointers, and he put the Razorbacks up 64-57 with a free throw. However, Florida closed out regulation on a 9-2 run to tie the game -- eventually winning it in overtime in Bud Walton Arena, where the Gators lost last season. "We didnt want anything less (than a win)," Wilbekin said. "Us four seniors, with this being our last game here, we wanted to go out with a win." . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. . The Detroit Tigers star had microfracture surgery Friday to repair the medial and lateral meniscus in his left knee. "I dont want to say it was a surprise," team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said. https://www.cheapcavaliers.com/952q-nat ... liers.html. -- The Oakland Athletics and free agent right-hander Bartolo Colon have agreed to terms on a US$2 million, one-year contract, bolstering their depleted starting rotation. .Y. -- AJ Allmendingers journey is almost complete. . Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies.TAMPA – Mark Buehrle spun a gem on his 35th birthday, pitching as if he had evening plans to celebrate. "Go home, drop the family off at the airport so time to go home and clean up the house and get it ready for getting stuff shipped," said Buehrle of what will be a quiet night. Buehrle made his noise on the mound, tossing 6 1/3 innings of seven-hit, one-run ball against a Yankees lineup that featured every starter save for an injured Jacoby Ellsbury. He threw 94 pitches, 59 for strikes and was his usual efficient self, issuing no walks. He didnt strike out anyone, either. The Blue Jays won 3-1. "Hes looked a little different this spring," said manager John Gibbons. "Everythings just right. His locations on. I think hes popping the ball a little bit better. Of course I saw him last year, I hadnt seen him in any spring before that but I know hes feeling good and I think hes a little bit surprised about how good he feels and thats a good thing." Buehrle hadnt pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 7. On that day, he threw 31 of 44 pitches for strikes and was insistent that his changeup was the best it had been in any game in three years. In between, Buehrle made two starts in minor league games. Cognizant of his opponent, Buehrle threw fewer offspeed pitches on Sunday, focusing on his fastball. "We face these guys a lot so I came out and just said, hey, lets work on a lot of fastballs, location," said Buehrle. "I dont want to say trick them because obviously Ive been in the league for 12, 13 years so they know what I throw but just didnt want to show them everything." The plan is for Buehrle to start on Friday night in Montreal, the first of two exhibition games the Jays will play against the New York Mets at Olympic Stadium. Pitching coach Pete Walker draws up the assignments and didnt give Buehrle the choice of traveling or staying back in Florida to throw in a minor league game. Thats just fine with Buehrle, whos looking to pitch in front of a large crowd, in a large stadium, this close to opening day. "It definitely helps out," said Buehrle. "You get in that atmosphere, the adrenaline pumps a little mmore, theres a bigger crowd even coming here, everything just kind of clicks and it just becomes real once the game starts.dddddddddddd" Fridays start wont be Buehrles first at the Big O. His only previous outing came on June 18, 2004, an 11-7 White Sox win over the Expos. Buehrle pitched six innings but, as he put it, he got his "ass kicked." He allowed seven runs on 10 hits and got a no-decision. Reyes Update Jose Reyes wasnt in the Blue Jays lineup on Sunday, one day after leaving Saturdays win over the Tigers in the fourth inning with stiffness in his left hamstring. "It feels a little better," said manager John Gibbons. "We still dont think its a big deal." Reyes is listed as day to day. The Second Catcher Erik Kratz and Josh Thole are in a battle for the second catchers job behind Dioner Navarro. Its going down to the wire. "The number one job is going be able to catch Dickey," said Gibbons. "You want some offence but the number one thing (is) theyve got to be able to catch Dickey." Navarro played in 89 games for the Cubs last season, far and away his most since appearing in 115 games for the Rays in 2009. With that in mind, the Jays anticipate the second catcher having to play more. Kratz offers more offence but Dickey is most comfortable pitching to Thole. Dickeys thrown 565 2/3 career innings with Thole as his battery mate. Henry Blanco, at 127 innings, ranks a distant second. "I think theyve both done a good job so its a tough call," said Gibbons. Dickey, as he did last spring when the decision was made to take Blanco over Thole, insists he doesnt have, and insists he doesnt want, input in the process. Timeline for Roster Finalization Gibbons hopes to have his final roster determined before the Blue Jays leave for Montreal, where theyll play two exhibition games versus the Mets on Friday and Saturday, before the club departs on Thursday evening. "Well have a good idea before that what the roster is going to look like," said Gibbons. "Of course, well bring some extra guys with us anyway but well know in the next couple of days; with the catching, anyway." ' ' ' |
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