Florida returns to Elite Eight

Associated Press

MEMPHIS, TENN. – Florida is back to where its past three seasons have ended.

Michael Frazier II hit five three-pointers and finished with 19 points as the Gators beat UCLA 79-68 Thursday night to reach its fourth consecutive NCAA regional final.

The Gators (35-2) also extended the best winning streak in school history to 29 in a row in reaching the South Regional final. The tournament's overall top seed will play 11th-seeded Dayton on Saturday night for a trip to the Final Four.

Scottie Wilbekin added 13 points for Florida. Casey Prather had 12 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith had 10. Kasey Hill had 10 assists.

UCLA (28-9) was back in a regional semifinal for the first time since 2008 under first-year coach Steve Alford. But the Bruins just couldn't match Florida's physical defense or outshoot the Gators.

Florida shot 50 percent for the game (29 of 58), including 59.3 percent in the second half. UCLA finished 42.2 percent (27 of 64) shooting in only their fifth game scoring under 70 points this season. The Bruins were a cold 1-for-12 beyond the arc in the second half.

Frazier showed off the Gators' shooting skills. He had hit only three of 13 beyond the arc through the Gators' first two tournament wins but went 5-for-6 against UCLA.

The Gators led 36-30 at halftime and reached a different level in the second half. They hit their first six shots and eight of their first 10. Every time UCLA tried to make a run, Florida answered. First, it was Frazier hitting consecutive three-pointers as UCLA pulled within 43-39.

When the Bruins pulled within 56-55 on a layup by Norman Powell midway through the half, Finney-Smith hit a jumper for the first of 10 consecutive points.