No. 1 overall seed Florida tops Pitt 61-45, makes Sweet 16

ORLANDO, Fla. — Scottie Wilbekin scored 21 points and top-seeded Florida beat Pittsburgh 61-45 in the NCAA tournament Saturday, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year.

Patric Young added seven points and eight rebounds for the Gators, who extended their school record for consecutive wins to 28.

Coming off a lackluster performance in its NCAA opener, Florida (34-2) played with considerably more energy and intensity against the Panthers (26-10).

Wilbekin and Young spearheaded the effort. And had Florida not been cold from 3-point range, the game would have been essentially over much sooner than it was. The Gators were 5 of 20 from behind the arc, with at least five of those rimming in and out.

Florida advanced to the round of 16, where it will play either fourth-seeded UCLA or 12th-seeded Stephen F. Austin on Thursday in Memphis, Tenn. The Bruins and Lumberjacks play Sunday in San Diego.

Talib Zanna led the Panthers with 10 points, their only player in double figures.