The Florida Gators made a statement on Saturday afternoon, and they did it with authority. In a matchup of ranked SEC teams, No.
14 Florida never trailed and held off No. 25 Kentucky for a 92-83 win at the Stephen C.
O’Connell Center. With the victory, the Gators not only maintained sole possession of first place in the SEC, but also reminded the rest of the conference-and maybe the country-that they’re not just riding momentum.
They’re building something real.
Let’s break down five key takeaways from Florida’s impressive performance:
1. Xaivian Lee sets the tone-again
Xaivian Lee continues to be the engine that powers Florida’s offense. He led all scorers with 22 points, and did it with the kind of poise and confidence you want from your go-to guy.
Lee didn’t force the issue-he picked his spots, attacked when the lane opened up, and knocked down shots when the Gators needed a bucket. It wasn’t just the scoring, though.
Lee’s presence on the floor gave Florida a steady hand, especially when Kentucky made its second-half push.
2. Bench boost: Urban Klavžar delivers
Urban Klavžar gave Florida a huge lift off the bench, pouring in 19 points and providing a spark when the Gators needed it most. His ability to come in and immediately impact the game speaks volumes about the depth of this Florida team.
Klavžar’s scoring wasn’t just filler-it came at key moments, helping to rebuild the lead when Kentucky threatened to swing the momentum. Bench production like that can be the difference in tight conference games, and Saturday, it was.
3. Double trouble in the paint
Florida’s frontcourt duo of Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu showed up in a big way, each recording a double-double. They controlled the glass, battled for second-chance points, and brought the kind of physicality that wears teams down over 40 minutes.
Chinyelu, in particular, was relentless on the boards, and his energy helped the Gators finish strong. Condon’s versatility-scoring inside and stepping out when needed-adds another layer to Florida’s offensive attack.
4. Thomas Haugh’s all-around impact
Thomas Haugh quietly put together one of the most complete performances of the day. He finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, but it was the way he filled in the gaps that stood out.
Whether it was helping on the glass, making the extra pass, or finishing at the rim, Haugh played with a level of maturity that’s easy to overlook unless you’re watching closely. He did a little bit of everything, and in a game this competitive, that matters.
5. Florida’s response game is strong
Kentucky came out swinging to start the second half, opening on a 7-0 run that trimmed Florida’s lead to just two points. But here’s where the Gators showed real growth.
They didn’t panic. They didn’t let the game slip away.
Instead, they responded with composure, rebuilt their lead, and eventually pushed it back up to 16. That kind of resilience is what separates good teams from great ones.
Head coach Todd Golden acknowledged that the Gators weren’t perfect-there were stretches where the defense sagged and the offense got a little loose-but when it mattered most, Florida locked in.
Golden pointed to the team’s effort on the glass and their ability to get to the line late as key factors in closing the game out. He also noted the importance of guarding the perimeter down the stretch, making sure Kentucky didn’t get hot from deep and spark a late comeback.
This wasn’t Florida’s cleanest game of the season, but it might’ve been one of its most telling. The Gators showed they can take a punch, stay composed, and finish strong. With balanced scoring, toughness inside, and a clear leader in Xaivian Lee, this team has the pieces to make noise-not just in the SEC, but beyond.
For now, they sit atop the conference standings. And if Saturday’s performance is any indication, they’re not planning on giving up that spot anytime soon.