AUBURN, Ala. - With the first three, Erving Walker gave the Gators a chance, with the second, hope, and with the third, Walter Hodge delivered a win.
UF (15-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) knocked down three 3-point shots in the game's final four minutes to rescue a 68-65 victory from the hands of defeat Wednesday night at Auburn (10-6, 0-2 SEC).
"I like taking the big shot," Walker said. "I love playing with the crowd against me."
Walker, who was limited by flu-like symptoms, managed to sink the game's biggest shots and found Hodge for the game-winner despite being depleted by the sickness.
"I'm dying," Walker said after the game. "My throat's killing me, and my body just feels cold."
Walker, who finished with 9 points, wanted the ball in his hands late in the game.
"In that situation, I wasn't thinking about my sickness," Walker said. "I knew we needed those shots."
UF held a 6-point halftime lead but allowed the Tigers to climb back into the game with untimely second-half turnovers.
The Gators coughed the ball up 17 times and found themselves down 52-51 with just under 7 minutes to play.
The Tigers had a chance to win the game down the stretch, but couldn't close the deal from the foul line. Auburn shot 10 for 21 from the stripe.
"When you play on the road, you have to find a way to answer," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "Walker's two threes were big. That really helped us hold down the fort late."
The Gators went 5 of 23 from 3-point range, but came up perfect with the game on the line.
After having their back broken on the boards by Mississippi, the UF frontcourt may have finally found its spine.
The Gators were punished on the glass by a Rebels team that, at the time, had the worst rebounding margin in the conference.
UF outrebounded Auburn 46-36 and may have won back some of the pride it had given away to Mississippi.
"We had some tough practices after that game, and we know that needs to be our focus," Alex Tyus said.
While Kenny Kadji has struggled to find consistency this season, he showed once again he can provide the Gators with another solid option inside. The freshman scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards, had two steals and blocked two shots in the win.
"As long as (Kadji's) mind is right, he's a really good player," Tyus said. "He's really starting to come along."
Eloy Vargas saw what may have been the first meaningful minutes of his career Wednesday.
The freshman came off the bench in the first half to score 2 points and snatch two rebounds.
"We wanted to play Vargas more, but it was just hard for us, matchup wise," Donovan said.
Nick Calathes led the Gators in scoring with 17 points.
The win was Donovan's 300th as the coach of the Gators.
"It's tough in this league," Donovan said. "Every night is a constant battle."
According to UF Sports Information Director Fred Demarest, freshman forward Allen Chaney did not make the trip to Auburn with the rest of the team because of back spasms. He is probable for UF's game against Arkansas at home Saturday.
