Tuesday night’s clash might not have been the most thrilling spectacle, but the No. 12 Florida Gators continued their winning streak with a solid 76-62 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Stephen C.
O’Connell Center. The Gators’ frontcourt dominated, keeping them at the top of the SEC standings as they approach the final stretch of the regular season.
With a record of 20-6 overall and 11-2 in the SEC, Florida has now defeated South Carolina twice this season, including a massive 47-point blowout back in January. While the Gamecocks showed improvement this time around, Florida’s offensive missteps kept the game closer than expected. Head coach Todd Golden will have plenty to review in the film room as the Gators prepare for their next challenge.
Let’s break down the action as Florida secured their sixth consecutive win and 11th in their last 12 games with some Fastbreak Takeaways.
Key Moment: The game was effectively sealed when junior forward Alex Condon completed an And1 play and followed it up with a powerful alley-oop, extending Florida’s lead to a game-high 22 points with six minutes remaining.
South Carolina made a brief push, cutting the deficit to single digits with a 6-0 run early in the second half. However, Florida responded with 7-0 and 5-0 runs to reassert control before Condon took charge in the closing minutes.
First Half Highlights: Sophomore guard Isaiah Brown sparked a 7-0 run with five straight points, helping the Gators build an early double-digit lead.
Florida pushed the advantage to as much as 14 points before a cold shooting stretch allowed South Carolina to claw back. Senior guard Xaivian Lee provided a late boost, converting a steal into a fastbreak layup just before halftime, giving Florida a 10-point cushion at the break.
Despite struggling from beyond the arc, hitting only 3 of 11 attempts, the Gators dominated inside.
Standout Performances: Junior center Rueben Chinyelu was a force, recording his 16th double-double of the season with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
His efficiency on both ends was crucial. Alex Condon added his own double-double, leading all scorers with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, though his six turnovers were a blemish.
He shot 7 of 14 from the field and was perfect from the free-throw line, despite missing his only three-point attempt.
Additional Notes: Florida improved their all-time record against South Carolina to 52-29 and are now 5-1 under Coach Golden against the Gamecocks.
The Gators are a formidable 18-1 when leading at halftime and 20-1 when ahead with five minutes left. Their dominance on the boards and in the paint was evident, but turnovers remain a concern, with the team matching their assist total of 14.
What’s Next: The Gators handled business as expected, but there are areas for improvement.
Shooting woes and turnovers, particularly from the backcourt, need addressing. Condon and sophomore guard Boogie Fland continue to struggle from three-point range, and Lee’s turnovers are creeping up.
Despite these issues, Florida controlled the glass and paint, outscoring South Carolina 44-28 in the paint and 27-15 on second-chance points. The Gators’ ability to grind out wins, even when not firing on all cylinders, bodes well as they push towards the postseason.