NCAA Tournament: Florida Beats Butler; Faces Oregon for Trip to Final Four

Florida has advanced to play #3 Oregon on Sunday.

Junior center Al Horford scored 16 points and added four blocks on Friday night. Photo courtesy: Univeristy of Florida Athletics

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 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 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 had 17 points, and junior forward Joakim Noah 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 on Sunday at either 2:40 PM or 5:10 PM EST.

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