No. 11 Florida 80, Arkansas 71

Tuesday, February 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Kenyan Weaks, who has missed only one free throw attempt all year, made four straight to give No. 11 Florida some breathing room and the Gators beat Arkansas 80-71 Tuesday night. Florida led by as many as 12 early in the second half but the Razorbacks made 3-of-4 3-point attempts to get within 65-59.

Weaks made two with 6:04 left and two more 14 seconds later and now is 43-of-44 for the season. Mike Miller, who led all scorers with 19 and had a big four-point play, converted both ends of a one-and-one free throw opportunity for 75-67 with 1:44 to play.

Florida (19-5, 8-3 Southeastern Conference) was determined to make Arkansas (13-11, 5-6) score from the outside and, for the longest time, the Razorbacks were inept. During the first 27 minutes, Arkansas made 6-of-23 from long range and fell behind by 10. The Razorbacks finished 9-of-31 on 3-pointers.

The Gators led for the final 33 minutes, but early in the half, Joe Johnson floated down the lane for a basket and Teddy Gipson was good from the corner as Arkansas cut the lead to four. Miller missed a 3-pointer, but the long rebound was grabbed by a teammate who gave Miller another chance from almost the same spot. He was good despite a foul and completed the four-point play for 47-39. Donnell Harvey missed an easy one, but Udonis Haslem's tip-in was unchallenged. Haslem and Weaks scored 13 each. Johnson led Arkansas with 15.

The Gators committed three turnovers in the first 2:12 and Arkansas built an 8-0 lead. Off the bench, Miller provided an immediate spark with a buzzer-beating 3 and a drive down the lane that ended with a finger roll.

Florida grabbed the lead, 14-13, when Blake Eddins' inbounds pass was deflected and Brett Nelson headed the other way for a 15-foot jumper. Weaks, 14-of-22 from 3-point range against Arkansas the past two years, was good from the right corner and then the left corner as the Gators went up 20-15. Arkansas got as close as one, but Justin Hamilton's fancy lay up and Brent Wright's basket widened the lead and it was 37-30 at the half.