Gator Country

Florida power forward Erik Murphy battles for a rebound during the Gators' blowout 84-50 win over Norfolk State in the third round of the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sunday. / IconSMI photo

Spartans star Kyle O’Quinn headed to the bench, shaking his head in utter disgust as he plopped down on the bench with his second foul midway through the first half.

No. 7 Florida (25-10, 10-6 SEC) was in the middle of a 25-0 run against No. 15 Norfolk State (26-10, 13-3 MEAC), and the Gators executed their game plan to perfection in an 84-50 rout in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

O’Quinn, who went off for 24 points and 16 rebounds in his team’s upset of No. 2 Missouri, was kept completely off kilter throughout the game as Florida ran at him and around him and doubled him as often as possible.

“We battled through some different injuries and different things,” coach Billy Donovan said on the TNT postgame broadcast. “I think some of our younger guys are learning what it really takes and how hard they’ve got to play. They’ve done a very, very good job and I’m happy with them and proud of them.”

More Basketball | RSS