Auburn Ends 30-Year Drought in Gainesville, Hands Florida First Home Loss in 17 Games
In a matchup that felt like it had history riding on every possession, Auburn walked into the O’Connell Center and did something no Tigers team had done in nearly three decades - win. With a 76-67 upset over the defending national champion Florida Gators, Auburn snapped a 15-game losing streak in Gainesville, dating all the way back to 1996.
For Florida, it was a jarring end to a 16-game home win streak and a reminder that in the SEC, no lead - or legacy - is safe.
“Disappointing,” Gators head coach Todd Golden said postgame. “We had been playing really well.
I don’t think we played great, but I want to credit Auburn. I thought they took the fight to us.”
And they did - from the opening tip.
Hall Ignites Early, Gators Play Catch-Up
This one had the feel of a heavyweight rematch. The last time these two teams met was in the 2025 Final Four, where Florida had the upper hand.
But on Saturday, Auburn flipped the script behind a breakout performance from Keyshawn Hall. The UCF transfer poured in 22 points in the first half alone, setting the tone with aggressive drives, confident jumpers, and a relentless motor.
Florida’s Thomas Haugh, who drew the defensive assignment on Hall, didn’t mince words.
“It was my fault,” Haugh said. “I know he is a really talented scorer. I let him get going, and once he gets hot it’s hard to stop.”
Auburn’s opening punch was a haymaker. The Tigers raced out to a 15-5 lead within four minutes, fueled by 10 quick points from Hall.
Florida looked stunned. A 12-0 Auburn run pushed the score to 19-5 before Boogie Fland finally broke the drought with a driving layup that sparked a mini-rally.
Florida clawed back with a 13-2 run, capped by back-to-back threes from Urban Klavzar and Xaivian Lee, cutting the deficit to 21-18.
But every time the Gators threatened to take control, Hall had an answer. He scored seven straight to stretch a 23-19 edge into a double-digit lead again, and Auburn kept the pressure on, heading into halftime up 43-28 - Florida’s largest halftime deficit of the season.
Second-Half Surge Falls Short
If there’s one thing this Florida team has shown all season, it’s resilience. And they brought it in the second half.
Led by Haugh, who finished with a monster 27-point, 10-rebound performance, the Gators stormed back. They tied the game at 54-54 with just under nine minutes to play, sending the O’Dome crowd of 11,004 into a frenzy. The energy was back, the momentum was shifting - but Auburn wasn’t done.
With the game tied at 56, Auburn point guard Tahaad Pettiford took over. He scored four of his 10 points during a critical 6-0 run, including a slick driving layup with just over four minutes left to push the Tigers’ lead to 62-56. From there, Florida never got closer than four points, and Auburn closed the door with poise, stretching the lead to as many as 10 down the stretch.
A Statement Win for Steven Pearl
For Auburn’s first-year head coach Steven Pearl, this win was more than just a conference road victory - it was a program moment. Pearl, who took over for his father Bruce after a decade as an assistant, called it “probably the best road game we’ve ever had as a program.”
And he wasn’t exaggerating. Auburn didn’t just win - they outworked and out-executed a Florida team that’s been dominant at home.
They outscored the Gators 36-28 in the paint, outrebounded them 19-13 in the first half, and set the tone physically. Florida’s frontcourt duo of Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon combined for just 11 points, a far cry from their usual production.
The Tigers came in as 11.5-point underdogs. They left with a signature win and a major confidence boost.
Florida’s Wake-Up Call
For the Gators, this one stings - not just because of the streaks snapped, but because of how it happened. Florida looked flat early, and while the second-half rally showed heart, the energy it took to climb back may have emptied the tank.
“I do think a big part of it was the fact that we had to expend so much energy getting back in the ballgame,” Golden said.
Still, the head coach wasn’t looking for excuses. He put the loss squarely on his shoulders.
“It starts with me,” Golden said. “Anytime you get to a point where you got things rolling a little bit and the moment you feel like you are on the right track, you get punched in the mouth. That’s what happened today.”
And now, Florida faces a new challenge - bouncing back. The SEC grind doesn’t slow down, and every team will be looking to replicate Auburn’s blueprint.
For one night, though, the Tigers owned the O’Dome. And for the first time since 1996, they left Gainesville with a win to prove it.