The Gators defeated Georgia on Saturday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum after rallying from a double-digit first-half deficit behind the scoring of junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida, who finished with 21 points, and freshman big Thomas Haugh, who came off the bench, scoring a career-high 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
In addition to being UF’s seventh victory in the last eight games, the victory marked UF’s tenth consecutive series victory over UGA and Todd Golden’s fourth attempt at leading the team against Mike White. Among his five teammates who finished with double-figure scoring, Clayton was the team’s leading scorer, but Haugh was particularly outstanding in the reserve role. In his career-high 26 minutes, the 6-foot-9 forward from Oxford, Pennsylvania, shot six of nine from the field, three of four from beyond the 3-point line, and pulled down four offensive rebounds. With 1:41 remaining, Haugh scored a driving, high bank shot to maintain the Gators’ six-point lead.
Bulldogs shooter Noah Thomasson (who finished with a game-high 26 points) made it to a one-possession game with 52.9 seconds remaining. Haugh retrieved an offensive rebound, was fouled, and hit one of his two free throws to maintain his side ahead by four.
Zyon Pullin, a fifth-year guard with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 0 turnovers in 38 minutes, finished the game with four free throws. Freshman forward Alex Condon, UF’s backup, finished with 10 points and three rebounds, while junior guard Will Richard scored 10 points and pulled down four rebounds. After a midweek break, Georgia came out firing, making nine of its first ten shots and building an 11-point lead, 22-11, in the opening six minutes of play.
The Bulldogs limited the Gators to only 40% from the field in the first half, and they went into the locker room ahead 46–40. Thanks to threes from Clayon and Richard, UF tied the game for the first time in less than ninety seconds during the first half of the second half. While UGA went ten minutes without scoring a field goal, UF was able to gradually increase their lead to seven points. With eight minutes remaining, the Bulldogs took a one-point lead thanks to six straight baskets.
Within five minutes, the Gators had cut the Florida lead to just two points thanks to a rare five-point play that included a 3-pointer from Condon from the top of the key while Clayton was being mobbed beneath the hoop. When Georgia made a late-game surge, Clayton’s squad had some breathing room thanks to his two made free throws, which gave them a seven-point lead. After that sloppy defensive performance in the first half, the Gators limited the Bulldogs to only 37.5 percent in the second half. They also forced ten turnovers in the second half, which resulted in 14 points.
What’s Implied
Add yet another victory—a Quadrant 2 victory, no less—to Florida’s postseason record. The Gators are currently 16-0 in Quad 2, 3 and 4 chances, despite only being 2-7 in Quad 1 games (i.e., no poor defeats, which is noteworthy). The Gators have won eight of their last ten games in league play, including three victories away from home, after opening the SEC schedule with two losses. Auburn’s home game against Kentucky later on Saturday would give UF sole possession of fifth place in the league standings and a strong chance to secure a top-four seed and a double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
Highlighted
How effective will Haugh be in this program?
Astonishing Statistics
Georgia has led in the second half of each of its 14 home games this season, but they dropped their sixth straight. The Bulldogs lost on their court, 10–4.
Next Up
Florida (18-7, 8-4) will travel again to face what should be the toughest test of the 2023–24 campaign—15th-ranked Alabama. The Crimson Tide (18-7, 10-2) have defeated the Gators three times in a row, most recently last year in Tuscaloosa, 97-69, which was UF’s most humiliating conference loss in 26 years. Earlier on Saturday, the team defeated Texas A&M 100-75 at home to maintain their lead in the SEC standings.
