sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Sophomore Christin Mercer scores two of her career-high 31 points on a layup during Florida's 90-74 win over FIU on Dec. 21 at the O’Connell Center. The Gators claimed their fourth straight Gator Holiday Classic championship.

Sports

Gators resting after streak ends

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 13, 2014

A midweek bye is just what the doctor ordered.

Scottie Wilbekin drives down the lane during Florida’s win against South Carolina in the O’Connell Center on Wednesday. Wilbekin finished second on the team with 18 points in Florida’s 84-82 overtime win against Arkansas on Saturday.

Sports

Wilbekin leads Florida to overtime victory against Arkansas

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 12, 2014

Arkansas was going to make Scottie Wilbekin win the game for No. 10 Florida, and he did.

Carlie Needles attempts a three-point shot against Arkansas in the O’Connell Center on Thursday. Needles scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting in UF’s 82-68 loss to LSU on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La.

Sports

LSU snaps UF win streak

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 12, 2014

Florida’s nine-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La.

Will Muschamp and his coaching staff successfully flipped four-star recruit Thomas Holley from Penn State after flipping Jalen Tabor from Arizona just last week.

Sports

Top-10 running back prospect flips to Florida, enrolls early

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 12, 2014

The tail end of last week was a whirlwind of recruiting news for UF’s 2014 class.

Florida forward Dorian Finney-Smith talks to a ref about a call during No. 19 Florida's 67-61 win against No. 13 Kansas on Dec. 10 in the O'Connell Center.

Sports

Finney-Smith fills stat sheet in UF win

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 12, 2014

With three of its starters ailing, Florida needed forward Dorian Finney-Smith to step into a starting role for only the second time this year and produce against Arkansas.

Sports

Harvin suffers concussion in first game back from injury

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 12, 2014

Injuries continue to plague former Gators receiver Percy Harvin.

Junior Kytra Hunter performs her beam routine in a dual meet against Ball State on Jan. 4, 2013, in the O’Connell Center. Hunter claimed first place in all-around and floor in the Gators’ season-opening meet against UCLA in the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Sports

Florida squeezes out win at UCLA in opener

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 12, 2014

No. 1 Florida defeated No. 4 UCLA on Saturday — but just barely.

Eddie Lovett (left) races in the 55m hurdles at the Gator Invitational in the O’Connell Center on Jan. 17, 2013. Lovett won the men’s 60-meter hurdles on Saturday.

Sports

Gators excel at UAB Invite

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 12, 2014

Florida dominated the Day 2 of the UAB Blazer Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Saturday.

Freshman forward Savannah Jordan passes the ball during Florida’s 2-0 victory against Texas A&M on Oct. 27 at James G. Pressly Stadium.

Sports

UF star scoring for USA

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 12, 2014

Savannah Jordan is continuing her dominance off the college pitch.

Sports

Florida kicks off indoor season with record-setting weekend

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 11, 2014

After a dominant performance in the preliminary round Friday, the Gators picked up where they left off on the second day of the UAB Blazer Invite on Saturday.

Florida point guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) attempts a layup against Richmond on Jan. 4. Wilbekin tied his career high with 18 points Saturday against Arkansas, including eight from the free throw line.

Sports

Wilbekin powers Gators to overtime win despite injured ankle

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 11, 2014

Arkansas was going to make Scottie Wilbekin win the game for No. 10 Florida. And he did.

Florida's Hugh Graham Jr., left, hugs Antwan Wright as teammate Dedric Dukes looks on after winning the 4x400-meter race during the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, June 8, 2013. Florida tied with Texas A&M for the men's championship.

Sports

Gators send 12 athletes to finals following strong preliminary showing

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 11, 2014

Putting on a show and breaking records is what the UF men and women’s track team did at the season-opening indoor UAB Blazer Invite Friday afternoon.

Scottie Wilbekin (center) poses for a photo with Casey Prather (left) and Patric Young (right) during Florida’s basketball media day on Oct. 9. Prather will miss Saturday's game, Wilbekin is questionable and Young will see limited minutes.

Sports

Prather out against Arkansas, Wilbekin questionable

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 10, 2014

The Gators will be without their leading scorer Casey Prather on Saturday when they travel to Arkansas.

Jaterra Bonds attempts a free throw during Florida’s 59-52 win against Arkansas on Thursday night in the O’Connell Center on Jan. 9, 2014. Bonds scored 15 points in Florida’s victory, which was UF’s ninth straight win. The Gators will attempt to extend their streak to 10 games against No. 12 LSU on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La.

Sports

Florida knocks off Arkansas to continue recent hot streak

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 9, 2014

Another Southeastern Conference foe, another victory for the Gators.

UF’s Casey Prather looks to pass the ball during the Gators’ 74-56 win against South Carolina in the season’s SEC opener on Wednesday night. Prather is questionable for Florida’s road game against Arkansas on Saturday due to swelling in his right knee.

Sports

Lethargic play hurting UF

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 9, 2014

South Carolina is no Kansas.

Bridget Sloan performs on vault during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb. 22, 2013. Florida opens the season against UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Sports

Gators return to site of 2013 championship to open season

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 9, 2014

Florida ended the 2013 season in Los Angeles ranked No. 1 in the country after finishing .200 points better than Oklahoma in the NCAA Super Six.

Eddie Lovett leaps over a hurdle during an NCAA East Preliminary Round in Greensboro, N.C., on May 24, 2013. Lovett has been leading the Gators in the build up to this season.

Sports

Gators look to seniors for leadership in final season

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 9, 2014

When the UF track and field team travels to Birmingham, Ala., for its season-opening indoor meet this afternoon, one thing will be stressed above all: consistency.

Coach Will Muschamp (right) shakes hands with Vanderbilt coach James Franklin. If Franklin accepts the Penn State opening, Thomas Holley's choice in schools may sway in favor of Florida.

Sports

Potential coaching change gives Florida shot at four-star lineman

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 9, 2014

Florida has a legitimate shot at landing 2014 four-star defensive tackle Thomas Holley in the near future.

Trinity Christian Academy outside linebacker Jeffrey Holland, a 2015 recruit, narrows down his choices to six schools Thursday morning.

Sports

Florida rebuilding secondary with top-5 cornerback recruit

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 9, 2014

We’re just less than a month away from National Signing Day, and for recruiting that means it’s the busiest time of year. Florida received some big news Thursday from both 2014 and 2015 recruits.

Scottie Wilbekin is helped off the court after rolling his right ankle during Florida’s 74-58 win against South Carolina on Wednesday in the O’Connell Center. This was the second right ankle injury Wilbekin has suffered this season.

Sports

Gators lose point guard in win against Gamecocks

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 8, 2014

No. 10 Florida handled Southeastern Conference bottom-dweller South Carolina 74-58 on Wednesday night in the O’Connell Center, but a right ankle sprain to senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin put a damper on the Gators’ program record-tying 24th straight home victory.