Walter Hodge wasn't about to go out a loser.
A day after having his jersey hung in the rafters of the Gators practice facility, the winningest player in school history scored a team-high 18 points to lead UF (22-9, 9-7 Southeastern Conference) to a 60-53 victory against Kentucky (19-12, 8-8 SEC).
"I wanted to finish the right way," Hodge said.
In his final game at the O'Connell Center, the senior walked off the floor to a standing ovation.
Hodge started fast, knocking down a three in the game's opening minute, and only got hotter as the game moved on.
"I told the guys find me early, so I can get in a rhythm," Hodge said.
Hodge, who grabbed three steals on the night, showed a defensive intensity that has been all but missing for the Gators this season.
UF held Kentucky to just 18 percent (2 for 11) from the 3-point line.
Wildcats forward Patrick Patterson (16 points) and guard Jodi Meeks (15 points) combined for more than half of the Wildcats offense.
"You pretty much knew where the ball was going," Donovan said.
But unlike their meeting in Lexington K.Y., earlier this season, the Gators didn't allow Meeks to take over late holding him to just 33 percent (6 for 18) from the field.
"To score 15 points and lose, it's frustrating to me," Meeks said.
For the second game in a row, UF point guard Nick Calathes hardly seemed like himself, scoring just five points and committing seven turnovers.
"He, at times, put our team in a bad situation trying to make home run plays on the break," Donovan said. "You have to have a concept of what goes into winning."
Midway through the second half, the sophomore threw a pass that got picked off and led to a Meeks 3-pointer. The basket cut the Gators lead from 10 to seven.
With the win, the Gators kept their NCAA Tournament hopes alive and locked up the No. 3 seed in the SEC East heading into next week's conference tournament.
UF will still likely need to win two games in St. Petersburg to find a way into this year's field of 65.
"We have to bring this to the tournament," Hodge said. "We have to bring this momentum with us."
UF will play Arkansas at 9:45 Thursday night in the first round.
