Gators Fall to Auburn as Offensive Woes, Missed Free Throws Prove Costly
Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, Florida ran into a buzzsaw named Auburn - and never quite recovered. The Gators dropped a 74-67 contest that felt, at times, like it was slipping away before it ever really began. Despite a career-high 27-point effort from Thomas Haugh, Florida’s sluggish first half and costly mistakes at the free-throw line proved too much to overcome.
Let’s break this one down.
A First Half to Forget
Florida’s offense came out cold - and Auburn came out blazing. The Tigers hit their first six shots and tacked on five points from the stripe to open up a 19-5 lead just five minutes in. That kind of early hole can rattle even the most composed teams, and the Gators never quite found their footing.
Auburn’s defensive game plan was clear and effective: pack the paint, force Florida into tough jumpers, and make them beat you from the perimeter. The Gators tried to muscle their way inside, but it wasn’t working. Auburn’s physicality disrupted Florida’s rhythm, and the Gators couldn’t capitalize from outside to loosen things up.
At halftime, Florida had just 28 points on the board - nearly matched by Keyshawn Hall alone, who poured in 22 of his game-high 24 points before the break. Hall was a matchup nightmare early, scoring Auburn’s first 10 points and setting the tone for the Tigers' aggressive start.
Florida also lost the rebound battle in the first half, 19-13, which isn’t shocking considering Auburn’s 51.7% shooting clip. The Tigers were simply more efficient, more physical, and more locked in from the opening tip.
Thomas Haugh: The Lone Bright Spot
When Florida needed someone to step up, Thomas Haugh answered the call - again. The junior forward was relentless, scoring a career-best 27 points and nearly dragging Florida back into the game by sheer will.
Haugh was the engine behind a second-half surge that briefly gave the Gators life. Down by double digits for most of the game, Florida clawed back to tie things up with eight minutes to go, fueled by a 13-4 run in which Haugh scored nine points. His energy, effort, and ability to finish through contact were on full display.
This isn’t new for Haugh. He’s been a clutch performer since Florida’s deep postseason run last year, and now, as the team’s unquestioned leader, he continues to deliver.
His motor doesn’t stop. Whether he’s diving for loose balls, attacking the rim, or battling on the glass, Haugh brings it every night.
And yet, he can’t do it all alone.
Supporting Cast Struggles to Deliver
While Haugh was cooking, the rest of the Gators’ offense never quite got going.
Key contributors like Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, and Xaivian Lee had a rough outing. Condon didn’t record a field goal, finishing with just one point on a late free throw.
He went 0-for-4 from the field and missed both of his three-point attempts. Lee, meanwhile, had trouble taking care of the ball and spent most of the second half on the bench after a string of unforced turnovers.
Fland couldn’t find his rhythm either, missing both of his free throws and failing to score from the floor.
Rueben Chinyelu, who had been on a tear with four straight double-doubles, was held in check by Auburn’s physical frontcourt. He still managed 10 points, seven boards, and two blocks - a solid line by most standards - but Auburn’s game plan clearly focused on limiting his impact around the rim.
The Free Throw Problem
Despite the rocky start, Florida had a real shot to win this game. But they left too many points at the free-throw line - and that’s where this one slipped away.
The Gators went 16-for-27 from the line. That’s 11 points left on the table in a game they lost by seven. Auburn, by contrast, missed just two free throws all night.
It’s not just the total misses - it’s when they came. Haugh, who otherwise had a stellar game, went 6-for-9 and showed visible frustration after missing his third attempt.
Chinyelu missed three of his own. But the most damaging misses came from the guards.
Condon missed a late free throw when Florida was still within striking distance. Fland and Lee combined to go just 1-for-5.
In a game where every possession mattered, those missed opportunities added up.
Free throws are supposed to be the easy ones - no defender, no pressure from the defense, just you and the rim. And when you’re playing a physical brand of basketball that earns you trips to the line, you’ve got to cash in.
A Missed Opportunity, But Not Without Fight
This one stings for Florida. They had chances to steal it late, even after a brutal first half. They showed fight, resilience, and flashes of what they’re capable of when they lock in - especially on the defensive end during that second-half run.
But moral victories don’t count in the SEC standings. The Gators are a talented team, and in many ways, they looked like the better squad in stretches. But until they clean up the details - the turnovers, the missed free throws, the slow starts - they’ll continue to leave winnable games on the table.
The good news? Thomas Haugh is playing like a star.
The bad news? He needs more help.
Florida’s next challenge will be finding consistency from the rest of the roster - because in this conference, there’s no room for off nights.