The Associated Press

ATHENS, Ga. - ATHENS, Ga. - For the first time in several days, Jim Harrick could smile.

The embattled Georgia coach was right in the middle of things when the crowd stormed the court, celebrating wildly after the 25th-ranked Bulldogs beat No. 3 Florida 82-81 on Tuesday night.

"The people of Athens, all the fans and students, they were 100 percent behind us," Harrick said. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate that."

Jarvis Hayes banked in a 12-footer with 14 seconds remaining, providing a respite from the trouble engulfing the Georgia program.

The NCAA is investigating charges made by former player Tony Cole, who claims assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr. paid some of his bills and committed academic fraud.

Harrick Jr. was suspended with pay last week, but watched the game from a tunnel near the Georgia bench.

"I love our guys," the senior Harrick said. "They played their guts out. It has been an unbelievable week for us."

Florida (24-5, 12-3 Southeastern Conference) had a chance at a final shot, but Matt Walsh slipped trying to penetrate and David Lee couldn't get the ball off before the buzzer.

"It was a disappointing last possession," Gators coach Billy Donovan said. "We had no penetration and no one wanted to take the last shot."

Georgia (18-8, 10-5) was playing its second game against a top three team in three days. On Sunday, the Bulldogs lost to No. 2 Kentucky 74-66.

The lead changed hands three times in the final 39 seconds, beginning with Ezra Williams' 3-pointer that put Georgia ahead 80-79.

Matt Bonner drove into the lane to hit a basket that put the Gators back on top, 81-80, with 23 seconds left.

Georgia called a timeout and set up a play to isolate Hayes on the left side. He faked Justin Hamilton to the court and knocked down the game-winning shot.

"I knew he had backed up a little," Hayes said. "I got a great look at the basket."

Said Donovan, "We had the matchup we were looking for with Justin Hamilton on Jarvis Hayes. Jarvis just made a big-time shot."

After Florida's final possession came up short, the Georgia faithful stormed the court to celebrate. They mobbed Harrick when he stopped for an interview, showing their support for the embattled coach.

"We really came together in this game," Harrick said.

Bonner led Florida with 24 points, while Lee added 18.

FLORIDA (24-5)-Roberson 3-8 0-0 9, Hamilton 0-3 0-0 0, Bonner 9-15 5-7 24, Lee 7-9 4-6 18, Walsh 5-11 2-2 13, Nelson 2-9 0-0 6, Drejer 1-1 3-3 5, Colas 2-2 2-2 6. Totals 29-5 16-20 81.

GEORGIA (18-8)-Wright 4-9 1-2 10, Williams 8-20 0-0 20, Ja.Hayes 8-14 4-4 21, Daniels 1-5 0-0 2, Thomas 8-10 3-5 19, Wilkins 2-4 0-0 4, Jo.Hayes 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 34-66 8-11 82.

Halftime-Florida 42-37. 3-Point Goals-Florida 7-21 (Roberson 3-6, Nelson 2-6, Bonner 1-3, Walsh 1-5, Hamilton 0-1), Georgia 6-23 (Williams 4-11, Wright 1-3, Ja.Hayes 1-6, Wilkins 0-1, Daniels 0-2). Fouled out-Daniels. Rebounds-Florida 33 (Bonner, Colas 7), Georgia 32 (Wright, Williams, Thomas 5). Assists-Florida 18 (Hamilton, Nelson 4), Georgia 25 (Wright 8). A-10,523.

No. 4 Texas 74, Kansas St. 60

AUSTIN, Texas - James Thomas had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead Texas, which finished its home schedule undefeated for the first time in nine seasons.

Brandon Mouton scored 13 points and T.J. Ford added 11 points and eight assists for the Longhorns (21-5, 12-3 Big 12), who went 14-0 this season at the Frank Erwin Center.

The win keeps Texas in the hunt for a bye in the Big 12 Tournament. Sixth-ranked Kansas has earned at least share of the league title and one of two first-round byes.

KANSAS ST. (12-16)-DeJesus 3-8 0-1 8, Siebrandt 6-7 0-0 12, Pasco 5-11 1-3 11, Richards 5-11 0-0 10, Hart 3-8 2-3 9, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Buchanan 2-3 0-1 4, Ellis 0-3 0-0 0, Hayden 3-5 0-0 6, Canby 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 27-58 3-9 60.

No. 4 TEXAS (21-5)-Buckman 3-5 3-4 9, Thomas 8-13 6-10 22, Mouton 5-14 0-2 13, Ford 3-10 4-4 11, Ivey 1-7 0-0 2, Paulino 0-0 0-0 0, Harris 2-5 0-0 5, Erskin 0-2 2-2 2, Klotz 1-3 1-2 3, Ross 2-2 0-0 5, Gressett 0-1 0-0 0, Boddicker 1-5 0-0 2, Ogden 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-67 16-24 74.

Halftime-Texas 42-30. 3-Point goals-Kansas St. 3-13 (DeJesus 2-7, Hart 1-3, Ellis 0-1, Richards 0-2), Texas 6-17 (Mouton 3-7, Ross 1-1, Ford 1-2, Harris 1-3, Ivey 0-1, Boddicker 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Kansas St. 30 (Hart 10), Texas 50 (Thomas 15). Assists-Kansas St. 7 (Richards 3), Texas 13 (Ford 8). Total fouls-Kansas St. 18, Texas 16. A-10,846.

No. 5 Oklahoma 76, Nebraska 51

NORMAN, Okla. - The Sooners, chasing Kansas for the Big 12 title, beat Nebraska and now close out the regular season at home Saturday against Texas. Oklahoma and the Longhorns are tied for second place and need a victory for any chance at catching the sixth-ranked Jayhawks, who finish their season at Missouri on Sunday.

"We're trying to go 13-3 in the league, and then `Go Missouri Tigers,' " Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said.

Hollis Price had 20 points to lead five players in double figures for the Sooners (21-5, 12-3).

NEBRASKA (11-17)-Turek 3-6 1-6 7, Drevo 11-17 1-2 24, Johnson 0-2 2-2 2, Simms 1-4 0-1 2, Clemmons 3-12 2-3 8, Dourisseau 1-3 2-2 4, Wilkinson 1-3 0-0 2, Conklin 0-5 0-0 0, Bohac 1-1 0-0 2, Wilbrand 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 8-16 51.

OKLAHOMA (21-5)-Bookout 4-7 2-3 10, Brown 7-14 0-0 14, White 1-4 0-0 3, Price 7-10 2-2 20, Alexander 4-7 5-6 15, Ere 2-10 5-6 10, Soschke 0-0 0-0 0, Johnston 0-1 0-0 0, Gipson 1-4 0-0 2, Gilbert 1-2 0-0 2, Szendrei 0-2 0-0 0, Liggett 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 14-17 76.

Halftime-Oklahoma 38-18. 3-Point goals-Nebraska 1-12 (Drevo 1-2, Johnson 0-1, Simms 0-1, Dourisseau 0-1, Wilkinson 0-1, Clemmons 0-3, Conklin 0-3). Oklahoma 8-19 (Price 4-5, Alexander 2-4, White 1-2, Ere 1-5, Johnston 0-1, Gipson 0-2). Fouled out-Turek. Rebounds-Nebraska 36 (Clemmons 11), Oklahoma 40 (Brown 8). Assists-Nebraska 7 (Clemmons 5), Oklahoma 19 (White 10). Total fouls-Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 15. A-11,890.

No. 12 Syracuse 92, No. 16 Notre Dame 88

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Billy Edelin had a season-high 26 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 14 of his 21 in the second half as Syracuse handed Notre Dame its third straight loss.

The Irish (21-8, 9-6 Big East), who trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half, tied the score at 86 on a 3-pointer by Matt Carroll with 2:02 left. But Anthony scored inside over Dan Miller to give the Orangemen the lead again. After Torrian Jones made two free throws to tie the score for the Irish, Anthony gave the Orangemen (22-4, 12-3) the lead on a rebound basket.

SYRACUSE (22-4)-Warrick 7-10 0-0 14, Duany 1-3 3-4 5, Anthony 9-23 2-2 21, Forth 2-3 0-1 4, McNamara 8-13 0-0 20, Edelin 13-20 0-1 26, McNeil 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 41-73 5-8 92.

NOTRE DAME (21-8)-Cornette 0-2 0-0 0, Miller 3-7 0-0 6, Francis 6-7 7-10 19, Thomas 7-20 0-0 16, Carroll 9-20 2-2 28, Quinn 3-8 0-0 8, Jones 2-4 3-5 7, Timmermans 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 31-71 14-19 88.

Halftime-Syracuse 49, Notre Dame 38. 3-Point Goals-Syracuse 5-11 (McNamara 4-5, Anthony 1-5, Duany 0-1), Notre Dame 12-34 (Carroll 8-16, Quinn 2-7, Thomas 2-8, Miller 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Syracuse 40 (Warrick 13), Notre Dame 37 (Francis 11). Assists-Syracuse 18 (Warrick 11), Notre Dame 25 (Thomas 8). Total fouls-Syracuse 17, Notre Dame 13. A-11,450.