Gators Men’s Basketball Holds Off Hurricanes in Physical Opener
TAMPA — Florida men’s basketball opened its season Monday night with a physical game against Miami. Rueben Chinyelu and Somto Cyril battled in the paint all night, with both teams pushing for space and taking elbows to the head, but the Gators held their ground against the Hurricanes’ game plan.
No. 1 Florida beat No. 14 Miami 77-67, winning the perimeter battle, capitalizing on turnovers and matching the Hurricanes’ physicality. The Gators’ shooting in the exhibitions had been a concern, but they answered Monday, hitting 42% from 3-point range (11-of-26) and 43% from the field (23-of-53).
“Really proud of my team. I thought we competed the right way, I’ve challenged our team over the past couple weeks that we can’t just compete and play hard,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “We have to play smart as well and I thought we did a better job putting those things together tonight.”
Cyril brought the physicality, picking up four personal fouls, including a flagrant, but Chinyelu won the battle in the paint. He outrebounded Cyril 14-7 and added three blocks as Florida finished with five to Miami’s zero.
Leading the charge for Florida was Thomas Haugh, who finished with a team-high 19 points, 10 rebounds and four 3-pointers. The senior forward excelled at finding off-ball shots and knocking them down with ease, shooting 6-of-13 (46%) from the floor.
“All credit to this coaching staff, I think the scout they put together for this game was like the best scout I’ve had since being here in Florida,” Haugh said of Monday’s game plan. “We were out there playing and it just felt like everything was moving, nothing surprised us.”
The Gators’ bench production was in question coming into the season, with the reserves scoring a combined seven points in the two exhibition games. On Monday, the production was spread out. Urban Klavzar scored nine points, and Isaiah Brown, who was scoreless against Stetson, added seven. Domen Petrovic chipped in six, and Florida’s bench finished with 22 points. After the Stetson game, Golden expressed concern about the bench’s production, and on Monday he was pleased with how key bench players showed up.
“They got some criticism in the preseason. I was even criticizing them for more. And they delivered for us tonight,” Golden said.
The defense was never the concern. Florida held Miami to 35% shooting and 4-of-17 from 3-point range. Paired with an offensive rhythm in the first half, when the Gators scored 46 points, that defensive effort and the Gators’ ability to capitalize on turnovers gave them control. Florida scored 21 points off 11 Miami turnovers. Boogie Fland, who ranked fourth in the SEC in steals last season, led the Gators with four.
The second half was a cold-shooting stretch, with Florida shooting 32% to Miami’s 29%. It became a gritty half-court grind, with both teams battling in the paint, and the half ended 31-31, preserving Florida’s 10-point halftime lead. The Gators won the rebounding battle 44-39 for the game.
Despite the cold second half, Florida took the season opener and will return to Gainesville for the home opener against Jacksonville on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Haugh admitted to “a bit of nerves” entering the season as the nation’s No. 1 team.
“I think we got an insane squad this season, it’s a bit of nerves, but you know, me, Condo and Rueben have been doing it for four years now, Enzo five years. We just come out here and hoop,” Haugh said after the game.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Men's Basketball
