No. 14 Florida beats Alabama 61-52

By John Zenor

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, Feb. 14 2012 7:10 p.m. MST

Alabama's Andrew Steele (22) drives to the basket past Florida forward Erik Murphy (33) in the first half of a NCAA college basketball game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012.

Robert Sutton, Associated Press

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Summary

Patric Young took advantage of Alabama's suspension-depleted frontcourt with 19 points and No. 14 Florida beat the Crimson Tide 61-52 Tuesday night.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Patric Young took advantage of Alabama's suspension-depleted frontcourt with 19 points and No. 14 Florida beat the Crimson Tide 61-52 Tuesday night.

The Gators (20-6, 8-3 Southeastern Conference) scored the first 16 points of the second half to turn a tie score into a comfortable win after losing two straight games.

The Crimson Tide (16-9, 5-6) has lost two in a row without top two scorers and rebounders JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell, who are on indefinite suspension. Guards Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele did rejoin the team and the starting lineup after being held out for the LSU game.

Young scored 12 in the second half despite heading to the bench with four fouls halfway through and fouling out late. He finished 9 for 12 from the field. Erik Murphy and Bradley Beal scored 14 points apiece. Murphy made 4 of 7 3-pointers.

Steele led Alabama with 11 points

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