Games
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| Forbes, Massachusetts top Florida in NIT semifinals (2) MASSACHUSETTS 78, (2) FLORIDA 66 |
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NEW YORK (Ticker) -- For the first time in three years, Florida will not win a postseason tournament. Gary Forbes scored 19 points and Dante Milligan had 17 and 11 rebounds as Massachusetts ended Florida's recent postseason success, 78-66, in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals on Tuesday. Chris Lowe and Ricky Harris each added 16 points for the Minutemen, who will face Ohio State in Thursday's title game. The two-time defending national champions Gators held a nine-point lead at the break and led by that same margin early in the second half when Massachusetts stormed back. "The reason I thought we'd have a chance in this game was if our seniors showed some leadership," Massachusetts coach Travis Ford said. "These guys just have that never-die attitude." The Minutemen (25-10) took control with a 22-6 burst - capped by an Etienne Brower 3-pointer - to take a 59-51 lead with 7:31 remaining. Florida (24-12), which was the first defending champion to miss the NCAA Tournament since 1989, closed within five but Forbes scored five straight points for Massachusetts to take a 64-54 advantage with 4:19 left to play. "We never worry about how we're shooting in the first half," Forbes said. "We went into the locker room knowing we were going to make a run." The Gators never got closer than six the rest of the way, as UMass made 10-of-12 free throws in the final 1:35 to seal the win. After a poor-shooting first half, the Minutemen shot 53 percent (16-of-30) in the second half. The Minutemen also forced 16 Florida turnovers. Trailing by two midway through the first half, Florida used its defense to fuel an 11-2 run that gave the Gators a 28-21 advantage with 5:01 left in the half. UMass missed 14 consecutive shots and went over 10 minutes without a field goal before Forbes' layup cut the deficit to five with 2:02 left before halftime. But Florida finished the half strong. Adam Allen made a 3-pointer and later made one free throw to give the Gators a 36-27 lead at the break. Marreese Speights had 16 points and 18 rebounds and freshman Nick Calathes added 11, 10 and seven assists to lead the Gators, who shot 4-of-13 from the free-throw line in the second half. "We didn't shoot the ball particularly well," Florida Billy Donovan said. "I thought their speed and quickness on the perimeter caused us problems." |
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