The Gators hustled and scrapped late Thursday night and beat the athletic and higher seeded Marquette Golden Eagles. The first 10 minutes were concerning for Gator fans, with a frenetic Marquette team running the floor and creating turnovers – it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Gators. UF ended the half with a 9-0 run with Bradley Beal & Kenny Boynton leading the charge and scoring effort for the orange & blue. Marquette star and Big East Player of the Year, Jae Crowder, struggled with missed shots and foul trouble allowing the Gators to gain momentum in the second half. Erving Walker sealed the deal with about 2 minutes remaining with a 3 point nail in the coffin.

Florida’s next game is against Louisville, with the winner advancing to the final four in New Orleans.