By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Erving Walker scored 20 points, Kenny Boynton hit three huge shots down the stretch and Florida beat Mississippi 77-71 Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
Chandler Parsons added 17 points for the Gators, who won their fourth straight.
Vernon Macklin chipped in 16 points. But Walker and Boynton carried Florida (12-3) in crunch time.
With the game tied at 61, Walker hit a teardrop in the lane, two free throws and a layup following a steal that put Florida ahead 67-63. Then Boynton hit consecutive 3-pointers, one of them a four-point play, and sank an over-the-head bank shot in the lane to make it 76-69 and essentially seal the win with about a minute to play.
Chris Warren, Mississippi's leading scorer, was scoreless in the first half. He got hot after the break, scoring 20 points. But it wasn't enough for the Rebels (12-4).
Updated January 8, 2011
