Walter Hodge may have had "DEFENSE" shaved into the side of his head, but it was all about offense for the Gators on Monday night.
Three players scored in double figures as UF (9-2) held on to beat Georgia Southern (3-6) 88-81 in the O'Connell Center.
Hodge, who in recent weeks has been outspoken in his motivation of a UF team that has struggled to slow down its opposition all season, might want to try a different look.
UF allowed Georgia Southern to get the foul line late, and the Gators failed to put the game out of reach in the second half.
With 38 seconds to go, the Eagles had cut the Gators' lead to 3 points.
Nick Calathes' (21 points) three with 5 seconds left on the clock rescued the Gators from near disaster.
"They played tougher than us tonight," Calathes said. "We definitely died down in the second half."
The game started to slip away from the Gators when UF Coach Billy Donovan was given a technical foul with 12:39 to play.
The call sparked a run that sent the Eagles soaring back into the game.
"Certainly I was very, very disappointed with how I got it with a guy asking me a question and then giving me a technical foul. I definitely have a problem with it," Donovan said. "I know I'm not allowed to talk about those guys, but I can tell you right now, this will be addressed with the league office about one individual."
While UF center Alex Tyus scored 20 points, the Gators failed to rebound effectively down the stretch and were unable to take advantage of Georgia Southern mistakes. UF went 14 of 23 from the foul line.
Chandler Parsons scored 14 points and once again went from famine (3 points against UCF Saturday) to feast in what has become something of a rollercoaster season offensively for the sophomore.
"They were more passionate. They were hungry. It seemed like when there was a loose ball they beat us to it," Parsons said. "We have to do better. We have to play with passion. We have to play with fire."
Donovan didn't disagree.
"Sometimes Chandler makes comments that I really wish he would back up himself," Donovan said.
