Florida made a statement on Saturday night in College Station, cruising past Texas A&M 86-67 to take sole control of first place in the SEC. It wasn’t always pretty early on, but once the Gators found their rhythm, they slammed the door shut on any hopes of an Aggies comeback - and they did it with a mix of gritty defense, second-half adjustments, and a breakout performance from Thomas Haugh.
A First Half Defined by Defense - and Missed Shots
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the first 20 minutes were tough to watch offensively. Both teams struggled to get anything going, but Florida’s defense made life especially miserable for the Aggies.
Texas A&M couldn’t buy a bucket, starting 2-for-27 from the field at one point and finishing the half just 6-of-35 overall. That’s not just cold - that’s ice age.
Florida wasn’t exactly lighting it up either, shooting 41.4% from the field and just 4-of-14 from deep. But the Gators did just enough to build a lead, thanks in large part to their ability to force tough shots and control the glass. Todd Golden’s squad didn’t let Texas A&M get comfortable near the rim, contesting everything and forcing the Aggies to settle for jumpers - which simply weren’t falling.
Despite the Aggies’ shooting woes, Florida only led by a manageable margin at the break. Given how poorly Texas A&M shot, you’d expect the Gators to be up by 20. Instead, the door was still slightly ajar heading into the second half.
Second-Half Surge: Florida Puts It Away
Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime, it worked. Florida came out firing in the second half, ripping off a 22-5 run that completely flipped the game on its head.
Suddenly, the Gators weren’t just beating the press - they were punishing it. Ball movement improved, spacing opened up, and the shots started falling.
At one point, Florida led 52-24, more than doubling up the Aggies on the scoreboard. Texas A&M tried to claw back into it, even trimming the deficit to 17, but every time they landed a punch, the Gators punched back harder. The Aggies hit a few threes, but Florida answered with higher-percentage looks, often at the rim or from the line - especially once A&M got into the double bonus early.
Thomas Haugh Takes Over
The breakout performance of the night belonged to Thomas Haugh, who poured in 22 points - 21 of them in the second half - and was relentless on the offensive glass. Six of his seven rebounds came on that end, giving the Gators second-chance opportunities and keeping the pressure on A&M’s frontcourt. Haugh also chipped in two blocks and a steal, putting together a complete performance that showcased his growing role in Florida’s frontcourt.
Rueben Chinyelu wasn’t flashy, but he was steady as ever, notching his 14th double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Alex Condon had a quieter night in the scoring column with just four points, but his seven boards and three assists still made an impact.
Off the bench, Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown gave Florida a spark. Klavzar dropped 11 points, while Brown added 12, giving the Gators some much-needed scoring depth and helping to keep the offense humming while the starters rested.
Florida’s SEC Road Ahead
What was billed as a showdown between two of the SEC’s top teams turned into a one-sided showcase for Florida. Since their loss to Auburn, the Gators have flipped a switch, and Saturday’s win was just the latest example of a team finding its identity at the right time.
Now sitting alone atop the SEC standings, Florida has eight games left in the regular season - five of which come against teams in the bottom half of the conference. If they can take care of business this week - first in Athens against Georgia, then at home against Kentucky - they’ll be in a strong position to stay at the top.
Todd Golden said earlier in the year that this group would figure things out as the season progressed. That’s looking more and more like a promise kept.
The guards are playing smarter, turnovers are down, and the frontcourt is asserting its will. If this version of Florida sticks around, the rest of the SEC - and maybe more - needs to pay attention.