Florida Gators men’s basketball overcame a rocky first-half performance to extend their win streak to six games with a 79-65 victory over LSU on Saturday. While the Gators’ Big 3 of Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin struggled to find their rhythm, Florida’s frontcourt came to the rescue with a pair of clutch double-doubles from Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu.
First-Half Woes
Everything seemed under control for the Gators until LSU unleashed a 22-2 run late in the first half, capped by 14 unanswered points. Florida, despite committing only two turnovers, couldn’t find the basket and scored just once in the final six minutes before halftime. LSU freshman Robert Miller III caught fire, pouring in points and leading the charge for the Tigers. By halftime, LSU had erased Florida’s early lead, leaving the Gators in an unusual position—trailing and reeling.
Second-Half Dominance
Florida regrouped after the break, outscoring LSU by 20 points in the second half. Rueben Chinyelu turned in his best game of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds, showcasing his ability to step up when it mattered most. Thomas Haugh added 16 points and 10 rebounds, continuing to thrive in his expanded role as a starter. Even without Alex Condon, sidelined with an ankle injury, Florida dominated the boards, finishing with a 15-rebound advantage over LSU.
Micah Handlogten contributed defensively with six rebounds and an assist in limited minutes, helping Florida outmuscle LSU in the paint and on the offensive glass.
Backcourt Blues
The usually reliable trio of Clayton, Richard, and Martin had an uncharacteristically quiet game. Clayton managed 13 points but failed to record an assist for just the third time this season. Richard, shockingly, was held scoreless, marking the first time Florida’s Big 3 collectively struggled to this extent. Martin, while contributing 10 points, shot just 30% from the field.
Fortunately, bench guard Denzel Aberdeen provided a spark, scoring 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting to help Florida weather the storm.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Florida improves to 24-3 on the season and remains in the hunt for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, the Gators will need to clean up their inconsistencies as they prepare to face Georgia on the road and host Texas A&M next week.
The resilience shown in the second half against LSU proved that Florida can bounce back, but Todd Golden’s squad knows they can’t afford to let opponents take advantage of their vulnerabilities as the postseason looms.
