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Florida beats Arkansas for fifth win in six games

 
Florida guard Chris Chiozza (11) looks to pass around full-court pressure by Arkansas guard Anthlon Bell (5) and guard Manuale Watkins (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the O'Connell Center on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun via AP)  THE INDEPENDENT FLORIDA ALLIGATOR OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT  FLGAI102
Florida guard Chris Chiozza (11) looks to pass around full-court pressure by Arkansas guard Anthlon Bell (5) and guard Manuale Watkins (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the O'Connell Center on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun via AP) THE INDEPENDENT FLORIDA ALLIGATOR OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT FLGAI102
Published Feb. 4, 2016

GAINESVILLE — Three months into the season, Florida has found an identity.

It centers on senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith.

Finney-Smith had 22 points and nine rebounds, topping 20 points for the fourth time in the past five games, and Florida beat Arkansas 87-83 Wednesday night for its fifth win in six games.

"We're playing with a lot of confidence right now," UF coach Mike White said. "We're way more of a confident team than we were earlier in the season."

The Gators (15-7, 6-3 SEC) also continued their recent dominance in the series, beating the Razorbacks (11-11, 4-5) for the ninth time in the past 10 games and the 11th straight time at home.

This one was a nail-biter late. The Hogs hit four 3-pointers in the final minute and made it a two-point game with 6.5 seconds left. But Florida closed it out from the free-throw line, with KeVaughn Allen sinking two.

"Last minute of the game, I felt like I aged a year," White said.

UF looked as if it would win comfortably for much of the night, especially after Finney-Smith and Chris Chiozza took over down the stretch.

Chiozza hit a step-back jumper just before the shot clock expired, then followed with a step-back 3 on the next possession. Finney-Smith kept it going with a 3 with 5:50 to play, capping an 8-0 run that put the Gators up 68-57.

Chiozza finished with 17 points and eight assists.

Because of poor practice habits, White benched John Egbunu for the second time this season. He sat for nearly 15 minutes before getting on the floor. "The other guys had a better week of practice … credit to them, and coach decided to put them in the starting line, which is fine with me," said Egbunu, who scored 10 in his first 11 minutes, finishing with 14.

Anthlon Bell led Arkansas with 24 points. "Our guys didn't go away and gave themselves a chance," coach Mike Anderson said.