Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (11/09/2026) — Thomas Haugh delivered a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double and Florida owned the glass by a commanding margin as the Florida Gators held off the Florida State Seminoles 81-72 before 11,500 fans at Tucker Center on Monday night.
How It Happened
The game opened at a frenetic pace, with eight lead changes reflecting just how evenly matched these two programs were through the first 20 minutes. Boogie Fland ignited the Gators with a 23-foot three-pointer 80 seconds in, but Florida State responded quickly — Kam Taylor's driving layup gave the Seminoles a 4-3 edge before Fland answered with another bucket to put Florida back ahead.
Anthony Robinson II provided Florida State's offensive spark in the first half, drilling a step-back jumper at the 13-minute mark to push the Seminoles ahead 8-7. The teams remained in a grinding back-and-forth battle through the midpoint of the half, eventually knotting at 13-13 on a Denzel Aberdeen three with 10 minutes remaining. Florida began to separate from there — Haugh connected from beyond the arc off a Fland assist, and Isaiah Brown's three at the 5:35 mark pushed the Gators to 23-19.
Sebastian Rancik kept Florida State alive, burying a 12-foot hook shot with 39 seconds left in the half to close the gap to 28-29. But Haugh delivered a dagger: a 27-foot bomb at the buzzer gave Florida a 31-29 halftime advantage.
Turning Point
The Gators came out of the locker room and immediately put the game away. Haugh drained another three just 34 seconds into the second half to push the lead to 34-29, then converted a Fland-assisted dunk at 18:22 to make it 37-29 — a 9-0 Florida run bridging the halftime break that forced a Florida State timeout. That sequence fundamentally changed the game's character, transforming a taut back-and-forth contest into a margin Florida would never surrender.
Shon Abaev's early second-half three cut it to 32-37, and Taylor's dunk at 16:07 trimmed the deficit to one, but Florida would not let the Seminoles draw level. Brown's second three-pointer of the game at 13:46 pushed the advantage to 44-36, and Urban Klavzar's 25-footer at 6:15 extended it to 57-50 — enough cushion to weather a late Florida State push.
Robinson II gave the Seminoles hope with back-to-back long-range makes in the final 1:12, cutting Florida's lead from nine to six at 70-76. Alex Condon's pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining sealed the final margin.
Star of the Game
Haugh was the story from tipoff to final buzzer. The forward finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and a string of timely shot-making that defined Florida's performance. He converted four three-pointers on the night — including the half-ending buzzer-beater and two more to open the second half — giving the Gators momentum at the moments they needed it most. Haugh's double-double was complemented by a strong night from Alex Condon, who added 9 points and 10 rebounds to give Florida a double-double from two frontcourt players simultaneously.
What It Means
For the Florida Gators, the win represents a strong early-season benchmark, demonstrating a frontcourt that can impose its will on the boards — Florida outrebounded Florida State 41-29 — and a backcourt in Fland (14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) capable of orchestrating under pressure. The 14 turnovers are a number Florida's staff will want to address moving forward, particularly given the Seminoles' modest seven assists.
For Florida State, the loss stings despite a credible offensive showing from Rancik (23 points, 5 rebounds) and Robinson II (19 points). The Seminoles shot 44 percent from the field — better than the Gators' 41 percent — but their 19 percent from three-point range on the night (compared to Florida's 32 percent) proved the decisive differential. Florida State generated just seven assists against 12 turnovers, limiting their ability to build any sustained offensive rhythm. The Seminoles will need sharper ball movement and improved shooting from deep if they expect to contend against quality opposition as the season progresses.
