Gator Country

UF forward Nick Calathes moves the ball past a Longwood player during the first half of the Gators games against Lancers in Gainesville, Fla., on January 6, 2009 (Casey Brooke Lawson / Gator Country)

Sophomore Nick Calathes (Casselberry, Fla.) tallied his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while also dishing out eight assists, to lead the Gators to a 95-69 victory over Longwood Tuesday. With the win, the Gators improve to 13-2 overall this season and 10-0 in the confines of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Lancers moved to 7-9 overall.

Florida couldn’t shake Longwood early in the first half, but took control with 7:37 to play before halftime when freshman Allan Chaney (Baltimore, Md.) slammed an offensive rebound for a 28-26 Orange and Blue lead. UF’s lone senior, Walter Hodge (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), followed Chaney’s board with a trey 20 seconds later that gave the Gators the momentum they would need to pull away.

Chaney finished the night with eight total points, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and grabbing four rebounds, while Hodge additionally tallied eight points and dished out three assists in the victory.

Freshmen Kenny Kadji (Douala, Cameroon) and Erving Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.) joined Calathes in double figures, combining for 30 points total, Walker with 16 and Kadji with 14.

The Gators shot 59.4 percent percent from the field (38-of-64) in winning their ninth straight game and held the Lancers to just 37.1 percent from the field (23-of-62). Antwan Carter led the Lancers (7-9) with 13 points, while Billy Robinson Jr. had 12 and Dana Smith added 10.

Florida will be back in action at home Jan. 10 when it opens Southeastern Conference play against Ole Miss at 6 p.m.

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