Men’s Basketball Advances To Regional Final With 65-57 Win Over Butler

ST. LOUIS – The top-seeded University of Florida men’s basketball earned a 65-57 win over Butler on Friday, advancing to the regional final round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

Junior center Al Horford (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) had 16 points, seven rebounds and a key block in the final minute to help the Gators hold off the Bulldogs. He converted a three-point play with 2:34 remaining, then blocked a shot with 16.3 seconds remaining.

Junior forward Corey Brewer (Portland, Tenn.) hit a baseline jumper with 1:43 remaining that made it 59-54. Brewer later made two free throws and finished with 11 points.

Junior guard Taurean Green (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) had 17 points, and junior forward Joakim Noah (New York, N.Y.) finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Noah was 9-of-11 from the free throw line.

Noah and Horford -- 3 inches taller than any of their opponents -- went a combined 17-of-21 from the line. Florida was 6-of-6 from the stripe in the final 35 seconds.

The Gators closed the first half with a 17-2 run and scored the last 13 points. UF also crashed the boards in the first half, holding an 18-8 rebounding advantage at the break.

Florida has advanced to play Oregon, a 76-72 winner over UNLV in the regional semifinal, on Sunday at 2:40 p.m. EST.