Alabama Alabama/Florida Florida Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Matt Bonner's first-half performance was all Florida (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) needed to reach the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Bonner scored 19 of his career-high 22 points in the first half on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc as Florida (23-5) took a quick 20-7 lead and never trailed en route to a 69-61 win over Alabama (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today) on Friday night.

Alabama (21-10) rallied in the final minutes and got as close as two points, but Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried said Bonner was the key.

"That was the difference I thought in the game," Gottfried said. "He stepped up and made (3-pointers). That gave them a cushion in the first half."

Bonner tried not to be conscious of his hot scoring. He said he wasn't thinking about anything as those four 3s went in.

"That's the key," Bonner said. "They tell me I think too much and worry about too many things."

Bonner only scored one basket – a 3-pointer – in the second half, but the damage was done.

"Offensively, he took a load off us," said Florida coach Billy Donovan. "I know he didn't score much in the second half, but he's an offensive threat out there."

Brett Nelson added 19 points and Udonis Haslem 12 for second-seeded Florida, which has won 12 of its last 13 and eight in a row.

The Gators, who won a share of the SEC regular-season title, play Mississippi in the semifinals on Saturday. The Rebels beat Tennessee 86-73 in the quarterfinals.

Alabama, which trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, wouldn't go away easily. The Crimson Tide cut it to 44-42 with an 8-3 run capped by Erwin Dudley's jumper with 16:03 to go. It was the closest Alabama could get.

Florida reeled off six straight points to restore its lead to 50-42 four minutes later.

Dudley had a chance to cut it back to two points, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. Nelson then hit a jumper, and Teddy Dupay had a 3-pointer to put the Gators ahead 58-49 with 6:02 remaining.

Alabama, which had won five straight games, made another run in the final three minutes and cut the lead to three points twice. The last came after Dudley's jumper with 1:31 left, making it 64-61, and Florida responded again.

Major Parker made one free throw, and Nelson made two after Terrance Meade was called for intentionally fouling Nelson on a fast break with 48.2 seconds left. Nelson made two more free throws to seal it with 19.5 seconds to go.

"Every time they made a run, we came back at them," Nelson said.

Travis Stinnett scored 11 points, and Rod Grizzard and Dudley each had 10 for third-seeded Alabama, which beat Vanderbilt 78-59 in the first round.

The Crimson Tide might have needed another win to ensure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

"We're disappointed. We had some chances," Gottfried said. "They didn't play to look good against Florida. Our goal was to win the game."

Florida was ahead 41-33 at halftime after Bonner hit his fourth 3-pointer of the first half with 3.5 seconds left.

The Gators opened a 20-7 lead after an 11-0 run, but Alabama trimmed it to 26-23 when Grizzard's long 3-pointer with 8:03 to go capped a 14-6 run.

Florida senior Brent Wright, a key reserve who has had surgery to insert screws in his right foot and right thumb this season, didn't dress for the game. Donovan said he would make an announcement Monday about whether Wright will be able to play the rest of the season.

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