Florida Basketball Responds in Dominant Fashion, Blows Out South Carolina 95-48
After a humbling home loss to Auburn, Florida men’s basketball came out with something to prove on Wednesday night-and they did so emphatically. The Gators didn’t just bounce back; they bulldozed South Carolina 95-48 in Columbia, matching their largest SEC win in program history and setting a new mark for their biggest road victory in conference play.
This was as complete a team performance as you’ll see in college basketball. Florida was locked in from the opening tip and didn’t let up, turning a close early stretch into a one-sided affair by halftime-and never looking back.
A Statement Win After a Setback
Head coach Todd Golden didn’t mince words when reflecting on the turnaround. “We had a tough loss on Saturday,” he said.
“This was an opportunity for our guys to prove we can respond the right way.” And respond they did.
Florida’s energy and focus were evident from the start. The Gators didn’t light it up immediately, but around the 10-minute mark of the first half, something clicked.
From there, it was all Florida-on both ends of the floor. Defense, rebounding, ball movement-it all came together in one of their sharpest showings of the season.
“This is a really tough place to play,” Golden added. “For us to get this type of victory, it says a lot.”
Size Matters-and Florida Used It Well
One of the biggest storylines from this game? Florida’s size advantage. The Gators imposed their will in the paint, and it showed up not just in the box score, but in the way they dictated the game’s physicality.
“South Carolina plays five guys who can shoot and pass, but in the interior, they’re not as tall or as physical as we are,” Golden explained. “We were able to take advantage of that.”
Rueben Chinyelu, in particular, was a force. The big man went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes-his 12th double-double of the season. Thomas Haugh led all scorers with 18 points, and Alex Condon nearly posted a triple-double with 10 points, nine boards, and eight assists.
Golden didn’t shy away from emphasizing the importance of having reliable bigs in this league. “To play the best ball in the SEC, you need competent, capable big guys,” he said. “And we’ve got them.”
Ball Movement and Unselfish Play Set the Tone
It wasn’t just size that overwhelmed South Carolina-it was the way Florida shared the basketball. The Gators racked up 28 assists as a team, a number that speaks volumes about their chemistry and commitment to playing for each other.
“Twenty-eight assists is crazy,” Haugh said postgame. “That just shows how unselfish this team is.”
That unselfishness was contagious. Whether it was Condon finding cutters from the high post or guards swinging the ball to open shooters, the Gators played the kind of team basketball that makes coaches smile and opponents scramble.
Mentality Over Momentum
For Golden, the most encouraging part of the night wasn’t just the scoreboard-it was the mindset his team brought into the game.
“We practiced really hard on Monday, which we usually don’t do,” he said. “None of us were satisfied with how we played [against Auburn]. We wanted to get back out there and compete.”
That mentality clearly filtered down to the players. Condon, who was one of several Gators looking to bounce back personally, made it a point to set the tone.
“It definitely was a priority for me to come out and have a good game today,” he said. “Come out with a different level of energy and lead the boys a little bit.”
And yes, he was well aware of how close he came to a triple-double.
“Rueben let me know-about 10 times,” Condon said with a grin. “He was looking at the scoreboard.
It’s cool. I’m just glad the team won.”
Learning from the Bumps, Not Dwelling on Them
The Auburn loss stung, no doubt. But in the eyes of this Florida team, it’s already been transformed into a learning opportunity.
“It was a speed bump,” Haugh said. “But every speed bump in the SEC is about learning.
We lost to Georgia last year and learned from that one and won a national championship. We’re going to keep learning from that Auburn game and keep pushing forward.”
That’s the kind of perspective that championship-level programs carry. And if Wednesday night was any indication, the Gators aren’t just moving on-they’re moving forward with purpose.
With SEC play heating up and the postseason inching closer, this dominant win over South Carolina may prove to be more than just a bounce-back. It might be the moment Florida reasserted itself as a serious contender in the conference.