No. 1 Gators beat Seminoles 81-72 in Tallahassee
Florida overcame a shaky first half at the free-throw line to secure a victory in the state rivalry game.
By Amit Chukwu ·
The No. 1 Florida Gators defeated the Florida State Seminoles 81-72 in a physical contest at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee. The sold-out arena witnessed a tense matchup that stretched until the final horn.
Thomas Haugh anchored the Florida offense with 21 points and 10 rebounds. This marked his second double-double of the season. His presence created consistent problems for the Seminoles defense throughout the night.
Florida State remained competitive until the end. The Seminoles kept the game close, showing signs of a potential program turnaround. However, Florida’s defensive intensity in the final ten minutes prevented FSU from taking the lead.
The Gators dominated the interior game. Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu combined for 16 rebounds. They forced multiple turnovers and helped Florida maintain its edge in a gritty physical battle. Urban Klavzar provided a second-half boost, scoring all 10 of his points after halftime.
Free-throw shooting proved to be the deciding factor. Florida went 4-for-11 from the charity stripe in the first half. The Gators corrected this by making 26 of their final 30 attempts. They also controlled the boards, outrebounding Florida State 41-29.
Florida returns home to host Merrimack on Friday. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the O’Connell Center.
