Florida 77, Georgia 64

2/27/2008 11:31 PM

By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -Nick Calathes and the Florida Gators may not have to answer any more questions about a poor February threatening their hopes for another NCAA tournament run.

Calathes scored 22 points and Florida never trailed while beating Georgia 77-64 on Wednesday night for the Gators' 10th straight win in the series.

Florida (21-7 overall, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) needed the win despite already securing its 10th straight 20-win season.

The Gators, who have won back-to-back NCAA championships, were only 2-4 in February before visiting Georgia. They had suffered three straight road losses.

Sundiata Gaines scored 13 points and Albert Jackson, making his first career start, had 12 for Georgia (12-14, 3-10). Georgia suffered its fourth straight loss and has lost 9 of 10.

Marreese Speights added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Dan Werner added 13 for Florida.

Dave Bliss and Jeremy Price each added 10 points for Georgia.

Calathes, a 6-foot-6 freshman, has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 SEC games. Calathes was held to seven points in Florida's 77-67 victory over Georgia on Feb. 9 in Gainesville, but he was back in his usual SEC form as the Gators completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs.

Jackson scored four of Georgia's first six points as the Bulldogs attacked inside. Florida countered with three 3-pointers by Calathes in the first three minutes. The Gators made 6 of 11 3-pointers in the first half to lead 45-32 at the break.

A three-point play by Speights pushed the lead to 62-44 midway through the second half, and he again pushed the lead to 18 at 65-47 with a jam with 8:15 left to play.

Georgia came no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Florida made 9 of 19 3-point shots; Georgia made only 2 of 15.