No. 1 Auburn fell to No. 6 Florida 90-81, marking the end of the Tigers’ impressive 14-game winning streak. Walter Clayton Jr. emerged as a standout player, contributing 19 points, while Alex Condon added 17 to help secure the victory for the Gators.
Florida (20-3, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) faced an early challenge, trailing by 10 points. However, they turned the game around, building a 10-point lead by halftime and maintaining their advantage in the second half. This win marks Florida’s second triumph over a top-ranked opponent this season, having previously defeated then-No. 1 Tennessee 73-43 on January 7.
The Gators showcased their shooting prowess, hitting 13 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. In contrast, Auburn struggled with their long-range shooting, finishing at 32% with 7 out of 22 attempts.
For Auburn, Miles Kelly led the scoring with 22 points, while Tahaad Pettiford and Chaney Johnson contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Takeaways
For Florida, this victory serves as a significant road win for coach Todd Golden, especially since the Gators had struggled on the road earlier this season.
On the other hand, Auburn’s defense, known for its strength at home, faced challenges in containing the balanced offensive attack of the Gators.
Key moment
With 5:58 remaining in the first half, Florida found themselves down by six points. They responded with a remarkable 14-2 run, seizing control of the game and scoring 23 of the final 30 points before halftime.
Key stat
Florida’s 13 three-pointers in this matchup stand out, especially considering they had averaged just 7.7 over their previous three games, which included wins against Vanderbilt and Georgia and a loss to Tennessee.
Up next
Both teams will be back on the court this Tuesday. Florida will face No. 22 Mississippi State, while Auburn heads to Vanderbilt.
