Late Free Throws Sink Men's Basketball in Final Minute

JACKSONVILLE --- Two free throws by Florida’s Nick Calathes with 34 seconds left gave the Gators a lead they wouldn’t relinquish to rally for a 52-49 win over Georgia Southern Saturday afternoon at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The loss snaps a seven-game winning streak for the Eagles, the longest streak before January since 1950.

While Georgia Southern (7-2) outshot Florida (10-1) 41.2%-25.5% for the game, the Eagles went without a point for the final 3:53 of the contest.

UF’s Dan Werner scored a career-high 20 points and had 14 rebounds to help the Gators come back from a 27-18 halftime deficit.

GSU freshman Willie Powers (Gainesville, Fla.) poured in 17 points and was the only Eagle in double-figures. Senior Matthew Fields grabbed 10 rebounds.

Werner gave Florida its first lead since the opening moments at the 6:28 mark of the second half with a 3-pointer at the top of the key to beat the shot clock buzzer.

But the Eagles scored six of the next eight points and a lay-up from Powers with 3:54 put GSU up 49-48.

That would be Georgia Southern’s final points of the game.

Calathes went 4-for-4 at the line in the last 34 seconds to ice the win.

The Eagles play their final contest before Christmas on Thursday, hosting Asbury College at 7:30 p.m.
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