Defending National Champion Men's Basketball Champion Florida edged Florida State 78-76 for its fifth straight win over the Seminoles. Despite struggling again from the three-point circle, the front court duo of Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh helped the No. 10 Gators grind out the win.
The University of Florida men's basketball team earned its fifth straight victory over Florida State by edging the Seminoles 78-76 Tuesday night at a sold-out Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center in Gainesville.
Three games into this season, the Gators and Seminoles are both 2-1. FSU, under new head coach Luke Loucks, continued to play up-tempo offense, pressing defense and looked like a team that could be a force in the ACC.
But fourth-year Gators coach Todd Golden, who last season led the Gators to a national title, once again watched his perimeter players struggle to find their scoring touch -- especially from the arc.
Florida guards Xavian Lee, Boogie Fland and Urban Klavzar combined to shoot just 4-of-21 from three-point range. It was a continuation of a troubling trend for a squad adjusting to life without last year's stellar backcourt. The trio of Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin, all of whom are now playing in the NBA, set high standards for the Gators' back court. All shot above 35 percent from the circle last season for UF, with Clayton knocking down nearly 39 percent of his 3s.
After three games, Lee, Fland and Klavzar are 11-of-55 on three-point attempts for a 20 percent conversion rate. As a team shooting 3s, Florida is now 19-of-90, or about 21 percent.
“The reality is our team is still trying to figure out who we are, get confident and get our footing under us,” Golden said. “At some point, we’re gonna start making some shots and when we do, I think we’re gonna be pretty tough to beat.”
Tuesday, Florida's dominance in the front court, particularly rebounding, carried the Gators to the win. The tandem of 6-foot-10 junior center Rueben Chinyelu and 6-9 junior forward Thomas Haugh combined for 30 points and 29 rebounds. Their performances, plus holding the Seminoles to under 34 percent shooting from the floor and 9-of-34 from three-point range, made the difference for the Gators.
"We stayed composed," Haugh said. "We started to break their press."
Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) reacts after a play against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn ImagesFlorida State (2-1), powered by senior guard Robert McCray V's game-high 29 points, built a 40-37 halftime advantage and looked more than capable of handing No. 10 Florida its second loss of the young season. FSU, who entered the game an 18.5 point underdog, still led 55-53 with less than 12 minutes remaining in the game.
The turning point came midway through the second half when Florida went on an 11-0 run, surging to a 66-57 lead with 8:27 left to play. A thunderous Chinyelu dunk pushed Florida ahead 71-64 with 3:50 to go, but McCray, a transfer from Jacksonville University, kept up the pressure. He scored six straight points, including a pair of free throws, to cut Florida's lead to 71-70 with less than 1:30 to play.
Klavzar, who had missed from three previous attempts from the arc, finally drained one when it mattered most. His three-pointer from the corner with 45 seconds remaining gave Florida a 74-70 cushion.
McCray answered with three quick points to make it 74-73, but Fland, an Arkansas transfer, knocked down a pair of free throws with 15.8 seconds left to push the lead to 76-73. Fland’s free throw shooting (6-of-8) and a pair of second-half three pointers (his first of the season) saw him finish with a season-high 18 points.
McCray had one final chance to send the game to overtime, but his three-point attempt from the corner rattled off the rim with seven seconds to go. Florida secured the rebound and added two free throws by Alex Condon (13 points, 6 rebounds but 6 turnovers) to seal the victory.
"I think the expectation outside of our building, outside of the arena, (was) that this would be a game for us to control. But we knew coming in how difficult it was going to be," Golden said. "Luke has done a phenomenal job in a short period of time, getting that program playing a very unique style that's really hard to prepare for, and playing with lot of confidence."
The Gators’ next game comes Sunday night in Jacksonville when they take on another ACC opponent, Miami, on ESPN at 8:30 p.m.
Quotable
“It means you're living right, as they like to say. I'm just happy it went in."
Gators guard Boogie Fland on the three-point shot he hit late in the game that initially bounced up above the rim, and then dropped in. His two, second-half three pointers were his first from the arc this season.
Stat Leaders
Points: FSU's Robert McCray V, 29
Rebounds: Florida's Reuben Chinyelu, 16
Assists: Florida's Xavian Lee, 6
2025/26 Schedule and Results
All times Eastern
ARIZONA 93, GATORS 87 Record: 0-1
GATORS 104, NORTH FLORIDA 64 Record: 1-1
GATORS 78. FLORIDA STATE 76
MIAMI Nov. 16 (Sun) Time: 8:30 p.m. @ Jacksonville TV: ESPN
MERRIMACK Nov. 21 (Fri) Time: 7 p.m. @ Gainesville TV: SEC/ESPN+
TCU Nov. 27 (Thur) Time: 3 p.m. @ San Diego, Calif. TV: FS1
PROVIDENCE or WISCONSIN Nov. 28 (Fri) Time: 3 or 5:30 p.m. @ San Diego, Calif. TV: FOX
DUKE Dec. 2 (Tue) Time: 7:30 p.m. @ Durham, N.C. TV: ESPN
UCONN Dec. 9 (Tue) Time: 9 p.m. @ New York TV: ESPN
GEORGE WASHINGTON Dec. 13 (Sat) Time: 2:30 p.m. @ Sunrise, Fla. TV: ESPN2
ST. FRANCIS Dec. 17 (Wed) Time: 6:30 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: SEC/ESPN
COLGATE Dec. 21 (Sun) Time: Noon @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: SEC/ESPN+
DARTMOUTH Dec. 29 (Mon) Time: 6 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: SEC/ESPN
MISSOURI Jan. 3 (Sat) Time: 8:30 p.m. @ Columbia, Mo. TV: SEC/ESPN
GEORGIA Jan. 6 (Tue) Time: 7 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: SEC/ESPN
TENNESSEE Jan. 10 (Sat) Time: noon @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: ESPN or ESPN2
OKLAHOMA Jan. 13 (Tue) Time: 9 p.m. @ Norman, Okla. TV: ESPN or ESPNU
VANDERBILT Jan. 17 (Sat) Time: 2 p.m. @ Nashville, Tenn. TV: ESPN or ESPN2 or ESPNU
LSU Jan. 20 (Tue) Time: 7 p.m. @ Gainesville TV: ESPN2
AUBURN Jan. 24 (Sat) Time: 4 or 4:30 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: ESPN or ESPN2
SOUTH CAROLINA Jan. 28 (Wed) Time: 9 p.m. @ Columbia, S.C. TV: SEC/ESPN
ALABAMA Feb. 1 (Sun) Time: 1 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: ABC
TEXAS A&M Feb. 7 (Sat) Time: 8:30 p.m. @ College Station, Texas TV: SEC/ESPN
GEORGIA Feb. 11 (Wed) Time: 7 p.m. @ Athens, Ga. TV: ESPN2 or ESPNU
KENTUCKY Feb. 14 (Sat) Time: 3 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: ABC
SOUTH CAROLINA Feb. 17 (Tue) Time: 7 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: SEC/ESPN
OLE MISS Feb. 21 (Sat) Time: noon @ Oxford, Miss. TV: ESPN or ESPN2
TEXAS Feb. 25 (Wed) Time: 7 p.m. @ Austin, Texas TV: ESPN2 or ESPNU
ARKANSAS Feb. 28 (Sat) Time: 8:30 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: ESPN or ESPN2
MISSISSIPPI STATE March 3 (Tue) Time: 8 p.m. @ Gainesville, Fla. TV: SEC/ESPN
KENTUCKY March 7 (Sat) Time: 4 p.m. @ Lexington, Ky. TV: ESPN or ESPN2
SEC TOURNAMENT March 11-15 Nashville, Tenn.