Auburn and Florida Trade Blows in High-Energy First Half in Gainesville
Gainesville had all the ingredients for a classic SEC showdown on Saturday, and the first half between Auburn and Florida delivered exactly that-intensity, physicality, and a whole lot of back-and-forth basketball.
Auburn came in looking sharp and aggressive, with interim head coach Steven Pearl pacing the sidelines at Exactech Arena like a man with something to prove. The Tigers wasted no time asserting themselves early, leaning on their size, speed, and a deep rotation that kept Florida on its heels through much of the opening stretch.
Keyshawn Hall was a focal point for Auburn’s offense, showing off his versatility and scoring touch. Whether it was pulling up from deep or attacking the rim in traffic, Hall had his fingerprints all over the first half. Florida threw multiple defenders at him-Xaivian Lee, Rueben Chinyelu, and others-but Hall kept finding ways to create space and get clean looks.
Tahaad Pettiford added another dimension for Auburn, using his quick first step to get into the lane and challenge Florida’s interior defense. One of the standout sequences came when Pettiford rose up over Alex Condon and Urban Klavzar for a clean jumper, showcasing the kind of confidence you want from your backcourt in a hostile environment.
But Florida wasn’t just along for the ride. The Gators countered with their own firepower, led by Thomas Haugh, who had a strong presence in the paint.
Haugh battled on both ends, knocking down mid-range jumpers and contesting shots at the rim. His matchup with Auburn’s Sebastian Williams-Adams was one to watch-plenty of physicality, a few highlight blocks, and no shortage of hustle plays.
Micah Handlogten and Rueben Chinyelu also gave Florida some much-needed rim protection, but Auburn’s forwards, especially Keshawn Murphy, made them work. Murphy had a thunderous dunk over Chinyelu that brought the Auburn bench to its feet and silenced the Florida crowd for a moment-a reminder of how quickly momentum can swing in these conference battles.
Boogie Fland, Florida’s dynamic guard, had his hands full defensively trying to contain Pettiford and Kevin Overton. Overton, in particular, looked comfortable handling the ball under pressure, slicing through Florida’s perimeter defense and keeping the Tigers’ offense moving.
The Gators leaned on their depth, rotating in guards like Urban Klavzar and wings like Alex Condon to try and disrupt Auburn’s rhythm. Condon had a strong drive past Hall that sparked a mini-run for Florida, and Klavzar’s perimeter defense helped slow down a few of Auburn’s possessions late in the half.
The energy inside the O’Connell Center was electric, with students packing the lower bowl after camping out overnight for a spot. That home-court edge gave Florida a noticeable boost, especially on the defensive end, where they forced a few key turnovers and challenged nearly every shot.
As the first half came to a close, it was clear neither team was backing down. Auburn brought the physicality and pace, while Florida responded with grit and execution. If the second half is anything like the first, fans in Gainesville-and across the SEC-are in for a treat.