GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Erving Walker scored 16 points, Chandler Parsons added 13 points and 11 rebounds and No. 9 Florida survived a scare from Morehead State, 61-55 on Sunday.
The Gators (3-1) also got 10 points from Kenny Boynton, including a pair of 3-pointers in the last 6 minutes to halt an Eagles rally. Boynton had missed his first eight shots before a layup on a fast break with 6:01 to play. His 3-pointers extended the lead to double digits.
That helped overcome a big game from Kenneth Faried, the reigning Ohio Valley Conference player of the year. He scored 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds.
Faried helped the Eagles out-rebound the Gators 41-36. Florida had out-rebounded its first three opponents by 11.7 per game, but managed only 10 offensive rebounds. Faried had seven offensive boards by himself.
Ty Proffitt added 11 points, which included three of Morehead State's four 3-pointers.
Walker added seven assists to go along with just two turnovers for the Gators, who were playing their fourth game in 10 days.
Morehead State (2-2) used a 22-10 run to start the second half, cutting Florida's 18-point halftime lead to 45-39 with 10:48 remaining. The Eagles cut the deficit to six points with 23.8 seconds remaining, when Faried's dunk made it 58-52. Boynton and Parsons each hit a free throw before Proffitt hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds to play.
Walker added a final free throw with 5.5 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Morehead State, which was looking for just its third victory in 26 games against an SEC opponent, shot 43.8 percent from the field in the second half (14 for 32) but was hurt by making only 3 of 13 3-pointers. The Eagles finished 4 of 20 from beyond the arc.
Morehead jumped to a 6-2 lead by making its first three shots -- all by Faried -- but the Eagles made only five of their next 25 and finished the half shooting 28.6 percent from the field. That included a 1-for-7 mark from 3-point range.
Florida built a 34-17 at the half behind 14 points from Walker, who went 3 for 3 from 3-point range.
Received 11/21/10 06:08 pm ET
