Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Alex McMurtry falls off the balance beam during the Southeastern Conference Championships on March 21 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. McMurtry scored a 9.30 on the event.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics falls off beam and into third at SEC Championships

By GRAHAM HACK | Mar. 21, 2015

DULUTH, Ga. — The Gators were in perfect position.

Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter hugs his son R.J. after taking him out of the game against Xavier during the second half of GSU's 75-67 loss on Saturday in the third round of the NCAA Tournament in Jacksonville.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Johnson's Journal: Georgia State's NCAA run ends, father and son walk off court together possibly for last time

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 21, 2015

JACKSONVILLE — With 19 seconds left in 14-seeded Georgia State’s 75-67 loss to Xavier, a father subbed his son out of the game.

Jayla Bostic talks with throws coach Steve Lemke after one of her hammer throw attempts during the Tom Jones Memorial Invite on April 19, 2014, at Percy Beard Track.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Throwers compete at UCF meet to open outdoor season

By Kyle Brutman | Mar. 21, 2015

The Florida track and field team kicked off the outdoor season on Saturday at the UCF Black and Gold Challenge in Orlando.

Buddy Reed swings at a pitch during Florida's 9-4 win against Tennessee on March 15 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball drops series-opener to Ole Miss

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 20, 2015

The No. 2 Florida baseball team fell 4-1 in its series opener against Ole Miss on Friday in Oxford, Mississippi.

Chase Perez-Blanco hits the ball during Florida's 4-2 win against Alabama on Friday at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF men’s tennis sweeps Arkansas, extends win streak to three

By CAYLEE UNDERWOOD | Mar. 20, 2015

Florida set the tone for the weekend after its third straight win in the Southeastern Conference.

The Arkansas bench celebrates their 56-53 win over Wofford during an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game Friday, March 20, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Arkansas holds off Wofford's upset effort

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 19, 2015

JACKSONVILLE — In Season 2 of the hit Netflix show House of Cards, Freddy Hayes tells Frank Underwood that in order to get the right result when you cook ribs, you have to slowbleed a pig during the butchering process.

Harrison Bader (8) celebrates with Dalton Guthrie (5) and Richie Martin (12) after hitting a home run during Florida's 22-3 win against Rhode Island on Saturday at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Junior outfielder off to fast start for Florida baseball

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 19, 2015

Since taking over the Florida baseball program, coach Kevin O’Sullivan has not seen a player on his roster end the season with a batting average above .400.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Johnson’s Journal: Harvard’s failed comeback shows the madness of March Madness

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 19, 2015

JACKSONVILLE — Sometimes, March absolutely sucks.

Kirsti Merritt bats during UF's 17-1 win against USF on April 23 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators hit the road for series against the Crimson Tide

By Luis Torres | Mar. 19, 2015

Alabama and Florida has become one of the biggest rivalries in softball over the past few years.

Bridgette Caquatto performs her floor exercise routine during UF's win against Auburn.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF gymnasts motivated, ready for SEC Championships

By GRAHAM HACK | Mar. 19, 2015

The regular season was nice.

Coach Bryan Shelton talks with sophomores Elliott Orkin and Maxx Lipman during Florida's 9-3 win against William & Mary on Jan. 10 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis looks to continue win streak against Arkansas

By CAYLEE UNDERWOOD | Mar. 19, 2015

After a perfect weekend at Ring Tennis Complex against Mississippi State and Alabama, the Florida men’s tennis team hits the road for its next three matches.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators head to Georgia for Chris Schenkel Invitational

By Ryan Summers | Mar. 19, 2015

There are no days off as a golfer.

Marquis Dendy competes in the triple jump during the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

UF track and field opens outdoor season Saturday

By Kyle Brutman | Mar. 19, 2015

Six days ago, the Florida men’s and women’s track and field teams were the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation.

Brianna Morgan awaits a serve during Florida's 4-0 win against Maryland on Jan. 25 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Women’s tennis team hosts Ole Miss, looks to stay perfect in SEC

By Eneisy Rodriguez | Mar. 19, 2015

The Florida Gators women’s tennis team (13-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) is back in action this weekend when it hosts No. 17 Ole Miss tonight at 5 and Mississippi State Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Ole Miss falls to Xavier in NCAA second round

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 19, 2015

JACKSONVILLE — It’s both the cruelty and the brilliance of March Madness but in 48 hours, everything can change.

Georgia State players celebrate as they surround R.J. Hunter, center, after he made the game winning shot against Baylor an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game, Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia State won 57-56.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Last-second three lifts No. 14 seed Georgia State past third-seeded Baylor in NCAA Tournament

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 19, 2015

JACKSONVILLE — Georgia State guard RJ Hunter brought the ball up the court and passed it to forward TJ Shipes.

Treon Harris prepares to pass during practice on Monday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF quarterback battle heating up as Spring practice gets underway

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 18, 2015

Jim McElwain has a tall task ahead of him.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Florida sloppy on Day 2 of practice

By Luis Torres | Mar. 18, 2015

The Jim McElwain era is two Spring practices in and McElwain already sees areas for improvement.

Mackenzie Caquatto performs on the uneven bars during Florida’s 198.05-196.70 win over Georgia on Jan. 24.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Former Gators transition to life after collegiate gymnastics

By GRAHAM HACK | Mar. 18, 2015

Gymnastics isn’t like most sports.

Junior Natalie Hinds competes in the 100-yard butterfly during Florida's 189.5-110.5 win against Arkansas on Saturday in the O'Connell Center

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF women’s swim team starts NCAAs today

By GRAHAM HALL | Mar. 18, 2015

The No. 4 Gators women’s swimming & diving team is looking to cap off its season on a high note as 11 swimmers and one diver compete today for the 2015 NCAA Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic in Greensboro, North Carolina.