Gators coping with string of injuries

GAINESVILLE — The Gators simply can’t shake the injury bug.

Forward Casey Prather suffered a facial laceration during Florida’s 64-58 loss to Tennessee on Tuesday night in Knoxville, Tenn. Thejunior exited with 2:48 remaining after colliding with guard Mike Rosario on a rebound attempt. Prather’s head was bleeding. He left the game with10 points and two boards in17 minutes.

Prather has already suffered two concussions this season. The first came during a scrimmage against Rollins College on Oct. 27. He suffered the second eight days later when center Patric Young accidentally elbowed Prather in the head on a rebound attempt during practice Nov. 5.

The junior’s injury took yet another player out of the Gators’ already short-handed lineup against the Volunteers. Forward Will Yeguete (knee) and guard Michael Frazier II (concussion) were both sidelined for Tuesday’s loss.

Florida used eight players, but only six logged doubledigit minutes. Forward Erik Murphy fouled out with 54 seconds left in regulation, guard Kenny Boynton played 37 minutes andguardScottieWilbekin played agame-high 39 minutes.

“We don’t have any excuses,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “Whenwe line up, we line up and play.”

Fortunately for the Gators, Prather, Yeguete and Frazier were all cleared to practice Friday and could potentially return for Saturday’s game against Alabama at noon in the O’Connell Center. The Gators own a one-game lead against theCrimsonTidein theSoutheasternConferencestandings.