» NCAA Basketball » Hoyas Feel The Bite From The Gators, Florida Advances 57-53 In Another Close Regional Game
Hoyas Feel The Bite From The Gators, Florida Advances 57-53 In Another Close Regional Game
Story by: Richard thomas
Posted April 16, 2006
Photos by: Sol tucker
Minneapolis, MN--
Tonight was not the results the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team was looking for, but if it is any sign as to where the program is going for the future the trip to Minneapolis leaves Hoya fans with something to look forward to next season, too bad it just could not be one more day in here in the cold confines of Minnesota.
Four players for the Hoyas scored in double figures, led by sophomore forward Jeff Green, who had 15 points and added six rebounds and four assists.
Sophomore forward Joakim Noah, scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked 5 shots for Florida.
"We don't want to, I don't want to be going home right now," Hoyas Coach John Thompson III said. "You have to give them a lot of credit. They hung in there, and they made plays down at the end when they needed to make plays. It is what it is."
Brandon Bowman gave the Hoyas the chance they needed in the final minutes when he made a backdoor cut, grabbed a pass and laid the ball in to give his team a 51-49 lead. Then it was Lee Humphrey's 3 pointer with 2:20 left put Florida in front, 52-51.
Ashanti Cook would not let Florida climb away as he banked in a jumper to give the Hoyas the lead back with 1:51 remaining, but that was their last score.
Perhaps the major difference for the Hoyas came with the lack of scoring inside by Roy Hibbert, who finished with just 10 points after dominating the first two games of the tournament.
"We're not satisfied at all," Hibbert said. "We came here to win. We're not just satisfied at getting to the Sweet 16 or being in the tournament. We're here to win."
Florida (30-6) will play top-seeded Villanova on Sunday in the final, with the winner advancing to next weekend's Final Four in Indianapolis. It's a rematch of a second-round game from last year, a 76-65 Gators loss.
Florida's Joakim Noah Took Helped The Gators See Another Day After Defeating the Hoyas