No. 1 Florida maintained its perfect start to the season with an 81-72 road victory over Florida State on Tuesday night. Led by a standout performance from Thomas Haugh, the Gators secured their sixth consecutive win in the rivalry, improving to 3-0 while the Seminoles fell to 2-1.

How did Haugh impact the game?

Senior forward Thomas Haugh delivered a dominant performance to anchor the Florida offense. Haugh recorded a double-double, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds over 34 minutes of play. His efficiency at the charity stripe was critical, as he converted 10 of 12 free throws.

Other key contributors for the Gators included:

  • Boogie Fland: 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
  • Urban Klavzar: 10 points, including an eight-point second-half surge.
  • Alex Condon: 9 points and 10 rebounds.

What caused the Seminoles to struggle?

Despite a strong scoring effort from Sebastian Rancik, who tallied 23 points, Florida State struggled with perimeter consistency and rebounding. The Seminoles shot only 19% from the three-point line, making just 4 of 21 attempts. Florida also controlled the glass, out-rebounding FSU 41-29.

While Florida State held a narrow 29-28 lead at the end of the first half, the Gators took control for much of the second period. Florida eventually led for 33 minutes of the contest, pulling ahead by as many as 11 points during the game.

A growing rivalry in Tallahassee

The matchup took place in front of a sellout crowd at the Donald L. Tucker Center, marking a significant moment for the Florida State program. While the Gators dominated the scoring, Florida State showed signs of progress, particularly in the paint where they held a 32-20 advantage over Florida.

Florida coach Todd Golden noted that the Seminoles program is on the rise, acknowledging the momentum and excitement surrounding the game. However, Florida's ability to capitalize on second-chance points and their superior free-throw shooting—converting 30 of 41 attempts—allowed them to weather the home team's pressure and maintain their top ranking.