By: Brandon

Walter Hodge played his final home game as a Florida Gator, but his career at Florida is still not retired. Hodge finished with 18 points on Senior Day as he helped Florida top Kentucky 60-53.

The Gators (22-9, 9-7) started off shooting real well as they took a 18-10 lead with roughly fourteen minutes left in the half, but Kentucky (19-12, 8-8) answered back every turnover the Gators forced early on in the game. The Refs did not help a bit in the contest, not calling hardly any fouls on either side unless there was blood. Well, not really blood but as I mean they let them play very physical and coach Billy Donovan had every right to argue with the refs after every time a Gator player was mugged.

The Gators went into the locker room leading 29 to 22 at the half after a Patrick Patterson tip in at the buzzer which was reviewed and counted.

Kentucky fought back in the second half. I do not know if coach Billy Gillispie got them fired up or what, but the Wildcats dwindled the score down by 5 with four and a half remaining in the game. But it did not mean a thing. Freshman guard Erving Walker stepped up and hit a huge three that got the crowd back into the game after the creeping comeback from Kentucky, which put them up by eight.

With 3:40 remaining in the game, Walter Hodge took away a Kentucky pass near the sideline, and apparently all the fans and players thought he stepped out so they just paused but Hodge kept going which led to an easy two that gave the Gators an eight point lead that pretty much summed things up. With just ten seconds left in the game, Hodge was fouled and sent to the free throw line. Everybody stood up and cheered Walter on as he shot the double bonus. Hodge missed the first but sunk the second attempt, and then coach Billy Donovan made a quick substitution for Hodge so he would get his standing ovation from the fans. At the end of the game, Hodge was interviewed and he told the fans and Gator Nation that he appreciates all of their support throughout the four years at the University Of Florida.

Billy Donovan told the press how much of a physical contest it was, and how Dan Werner and Alex Tyus battled by not letting Patterson get to the bucket as much in the second half.

Other statistics for the Gators. Sophomore Alex Tyus added 11 points along with a pair of dunks and three rebounds. Erving Walker scored 10 while junior Dan Werner put up 8 points and came down with six boards. The game was very exciting, but emotional. I hate to see any senior leave, but Walter Hodge was one of the best, along with the most winningest player to wear the Gator uniform.

The Gators clinched the third spot of the Eastern part of the SEC and will face Arkansas in the first round of the SEC tournament on Thursday starting at 9:45pm.