Auburn
Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (01/23/2026) — The Auburn Tigers secured a landmark 76-67 victory over the No. 16 Florida Gators on Friday night, silencing a packed Stephen C. O'Connell Center and earning their first win in Gainesville since 1996. The win snapped Florida's 16-game home winning streak and handed the defending national champions their first loss on their home court this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Auburn stormed out of the gates, mounting a stunning 19-2 run in the opening minutes, largely fueled by the torrid shooting of senior Keyshawn Hall. Hall was virtually unstoppable in the first half, pouring in 22 of his game-high 24 points before the break and propelling the Tigers to a commanding 43-28 halftime lead. The lead swelled to as many as 18 points early in the second half after a three-pointer from Sebastian Williams-Adams.
However, the Florida Gators, roared on by 11,104 fans, mounted a furious comeback. Led by a heroic effort from Thomas Haugh, Florida opened the second half with a 13-2 run to climb back into the contest. The Gators methodically chipped away at the deficit, eventually tying the game at 56-56 with just over eight minutes remaining on a reverse layup by Haugh, who was brilliant throughout the night.
TURNING POINT
The game reached its critical juncture immediately after Florida tied the score. On a fast break, a layup by Haugh that would have given the Gators the lead was waved off after an official review for goaltending. This pivotal momentum swing proved disastrous for Florida. Following the overturned call, the Gators' offense went cold, suffering a nearly eight-minute stretch without a field goal and missing nine consecutive shots. Auburn capitalized on the drought, with Tahaad Pettiford hitting a jumper to reclaim the lead, a lead the Tigers would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.
STAR OF THE GAME
While Thomas Haugh's valiant 27-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Florida Gators was the highest-scoring performance of the game, Auburn's Keyshawn Hall was the clear catalyst for the victory. Hall's explosive first half built the foundation for the win. He finished with 24 points, 4 assists, and was a consistent offensive threat. His dominant performance earned him SEC Co-Player of the Week honors for his efforts in this and a preceding road win at Ole Miss. KeShawn Murphy also provided a critical contribution for the Tigers with 9 rebounds.
WHAT IT MEANS
For the Auburn Tigers, this victory is more than just another conference win; it's a statement. Breaking a 30-year losing streak in Gainesville against a top-ranked rival demonstrates their capability to compete with the SEC's elite on the road. The win improves their record to 13-7 overall and 4-3 in the SEC, providing a significant boost to their NCAA Tournament resume with their third victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The loss is a tough pill to swallow for the Florida Gators, who fall to 14-6 on the season and 5-2 in conference play. The defeat not only ended their impressive home winning streak but also knocked them out of first place in the SEC standings. While Haugh's career-high-equaling performance was a major positive, the Gators' late-game offensive collapse and struggles from the free-throw line, where they shot just 59%, will be areas of concern moving forward.