Gator Country

Florida forward Nick Calathes scores over a North Carolina State player during the second half of the Gators' win 68-66 against the Wolfpack on Saturday / Gator Country photo by Casey Brooke Lawson

Sophomore guard Nick Calathes hit the game-winning shot with 11 seconds left in regulation to rally Florida to a 68-66 win over North Carolina State on Saturday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

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Calathes scored 24 points in the second half as the Gators overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. His shot with 11 seconds left in the game put Florida up 67-66 and he hit a free throw with three seconds remaining to clinch the win.

The win was the sixth in a row for Florida (12-2), while the Wolfpack dropped to 9-3.

The Wolfpack tied the game at 15 when junior forward Brandon Costner hit a 3-pointer with 8:20 remaining in the half. North Carolina State scored the next seven points on their way to a 33-23 halftime lead.

Calathes totaled a career-high 32 points in the game to go along with five rebounds and five assists. It was the highest scoring output by a Gator since Joakim Noah scored 37 against Georgia on March 1, 2006.

Junior forward Dan Werner added 10 points and junior forward Chandler Parsons chipped in eight points and five rebounds. Freshman guard Erving Walker added eight points and two key steals during the second half comeback.

Costner led North Carolina State with 24 points, senior forward Ben McCauley had 11 and junior guard Farnold Degand added 10.

The Gators have one non-conference game remaining against Longwood, who travels to Gainesville for a 7:00 p.m. tip on Tuesday (Jan. 6). UF will open conference play at home against Ole Miss next Saturday (Jan. 10) at 6:00 p.m.

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