Eli Carter added 11 points for Florida (16-16), which beat Alabama for the 11th straight time and advanced to face No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Kentucky in Friday’s quarterfinals. The Gators, who also received 10 points off the bench from Devin Robinson, committed only six turnovers and had a 35-24 rebounding advantage.

Levi Randolph and Jimmie Taylor had 15 points apiece to pace Alabama (18-14), which has lost three of its last four games. Rodney Cooper added 13 points before fouling out, and Retin Obasohan had 10 for the Crimson Tide, who were outrebounded 12-3 on the offensive glass.

Alabama, which trailed 33-29 at the half, pulled to within 43-40 on a three-point play from Randolph with 13:37 remaining, but Finney-Smith and Robinson answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to stretch Florida’s lead to 49-40. The Crimson Tide would get as close as 60-53, but the Gators scored the next five points to effectively seal the win.

Alabama started fast, hitting seven of its first nine shots and all seven of its free-throw attempts in taking a 23-18 lead. Florida scored the next eight points as part of a half-closing 15-6 run which put the Gators up by four at the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Florida, which has reached the SEC tourney title game in three of the past four seasons, is now 27-14 in the event under coach Billy Donovan. … Cooper, who picked up his fourth foul with 16:56 left and fouled out with 3:10 to play, scored only two of his 13 points in the second half. … Donovan improved to 16-2 against former assistant coaches, including 10-0 against Alabama coach Anthony Grant, who coached 10 seasons under Donovan.