Alijah Martin (15) and the UF bench jump for joy in celebrating the closing seconds of the Gators' win over the Crimson Tide in the SEC semifinals.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Junior center
Micah Handlogten waited his turn for one of the cold tubs in Florida’s locker room on Saturday. After his ice bath, the 7-foot-1 big man was all smiles, carrying more than just the usual postgame relief. His upbeat mood reflected the celebration following fourth-ranked Florida’s commanding 104–82 victory over fifth-ranked Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
One year ago at Bridgestone Arena, Micah Handlogten suffered a devastating compound fracture in the opening minutes of the SEC championship game against Auburn, a moment that derailed a surging Florida team. Taken off the court on a stretcher, the Gators were left shaken, and Auburn went on to win decisively.
Fast forward to this season, and Handlogten chose to forgo a medical redshirt midway through the 2024–25 campaign. His motivation was clear — to be part of the victories, the emotions, and even the postgame ice baths.
"I don't want to be known as the guy who broke his leg in the SEC championship game," Handlogten said. "I want to be known as one of the guys who helped his team win a SEC championship."
Now he and Florida have another opportunity to compete for that title.
Walter Clayton Jr. led all scorers with 22 points, hitting six three-pointers and handing out six assists without a turnover. His backcourt teammates Alijah Martin and Will Richard each added 16 points, while center Rueben Chinyelu recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes. Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh chipped in 11 points off the bench.
Florida’s offensive performance was dominant, shooting 52 percent from the field, draining 12 threes, scoring 42 points in the paint, and setting a new record for most points in an SEC Tournament game.
Handlogten contributed four points, 10 rebounds, and a blocked shot in 14 minutes, helping the Gators (29–4), winners of five straight and 11 of their last 12, advance to Sunday’s championship matchup against sixth-ranked Tennessee (27–6). The Volunteers reached the final by eliminating regular-season champion Auburn. Florida and Tennessee split their two regular-season meetings, each winning convincingly at home.
UF sophomore center Micah Handlogten (3) rejects Alabama guard Mark Sears during Saturday's semifinal.
With another emphatic win on Saturday, Florida left no doubt about its place as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is announced Sunday night. The only remaining question is whether the Gators will be among the top two overall seeds.
"It's a great win for our program. I thought our guys did an incredible job just competing for 40 minutes," said head coach Todd Golden, whose team is chasing its first SEC Tournament championship since 2014 and the fifth in program history. "I simply think our depth wore them out in the second half, proved out in the second half."
Florida’s defense played a major role. Alabama (25–8), a Final Four team last season, entered the game as the SEC’s highest-rated offense and ranked fourth nationally, averaging 48.5% shooting overall, nearly 60% inside the arc, and 35.1% from three-point range. The Gators, ranked second in the SEC and ninth nationally in defense, held the Crimson Tide to 41.8% shooting, 31.4% from deep, and nine points below their season scoring average of 91.4.
After a tightly contested first half where both teams shot above 50%, Florida trailed by one early in the second half. Then came a decisive nine-minute stretch in which the Gators outscored Alabama 32–11, combining sharp execution on offense with relentless defense to seize control. The Tide had no response.
"We want to be the hardest-playing, toughest team on the floor," Alabama coach Nate Oats said. "We were not today, particularly in the second half."
Walter Clayton Jr. gets fired up after feeding Alex Condon (21) for a slam.
With under 10 minutes remaining, Florida held a 21-point advantage while Alabama managed just 19 percent shooting in the stretch.
"We tried to make them uncomfortable, make them take tough shots," said Will Richard.
That plan worked. Alabama’s All-American guard Mark Sears, ranked third in the SEC at 18.7 points per game entering the contest, was limited to nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and missed all four of his three-point attempts. The Crimson Tide also lost forward Grant Nelson — their second-leading scorer and top rebounder — to a knee injury in the first half, forcing them into more perimeter attempts rather than challenging Florida’s size inside.
"We played collectively as a team, playing defense, doing what we had to do," added Rueben Chinyelu. "Just making sure all communication was on point. That's what gave us the edge."
Florida once again showcased its offensive strength in defeating Alabama for the fourth straight time, a streak that stretches back to last season. The Gators were sharp in both halves, shooting 51.4 percent before halftime and following that with 55.9 percent in a 57-point second half. The period ended with a driving basket by walk-on Bennett Andersen, sending the Florida bench into celebration.
Walter Clayton Jr. delivered another standout performance, reinforcing his status as the program’s first-ever first-team All-American. He went 7-for-12 from the field, including six of 11 from three-point range, added three rebounds, converted both of his free throws, and guided Florida to its 24th double-digit win of the season — the second in a row during the tournament.
"I just hope people understand how gifted and talented he is and how much of a winner he is," said head coach Todd Golden. "The guy has been a starting point guard on a 29-win team and playing an incredible floor game. … Again, playing like the best point guard in America, right now."
Florida looks every bit like one of the nation’s top teams right now, with the first of two major championships on the line Sunday.
"I can't explain to you how much I want to win it," Walter Clayton Jr. said.
That sentiment captures the drive fueling this group.
It also underscores why Micah Handlogten returned this season.
"It's the best feeling in the world, but it can get so much better," Handlogten said. "We want to keep playing, keep the wheels turning, and we have the team to do it."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
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