COL BKB: Florida 112, Jackson State 69

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NEW ORLEANS, March 16 (UPI) -- Corey Brewer had 21 points Friday night as No. 6 Florida drilled Jackson State, 112-69, in a first-round NCAA Tournament Midwest Region game.

After a sluggish start, the defending national champions built a 41-35 halftime lead, and then turned the contest into a laugher by out-scoring JSU, 71-34, in the second half.

Florida used a 17-6 run to take a 61-41 lead with 15:56 left.

Joakim Noah had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Chris Richard had 17 points and six rebounds, Al Horford had 15 points and 16 rebounds, and Lee Humphrey scored 12 straight points early in the second half for the top-seeded Gators (30-5), who have won five in a row.

Trey Johnson led Jackson State with 25 points. Grant Maxey added 12 points for the 16th-seeded Tigers (21-14), who won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament to gain an NCAA berth.