Micah Robinson (5) and his TCU teammates got to the rim a lot against the Gators Thursday.
What Happened
NEW YORK – Junior guard Solo Ball scored 19 points as fifth-ranked Connecticut used a strong second-half surge to rally past 18th-ranked Florida, securing a 77-73 victory over the Gators in Tuesday night’s Jimmy V Classic at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.
The matchup featured the last three national champions (UConn in 2023 and ’25, Florida in ’25) and served as a rematch of their NCAA Tournament second-round clash last March, won by UF in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game delivered on its hype, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a second-weekend NCAA showdown.
With 9.4 seconds left and the Huskies ahead by three, UF forced a turnover in the backcourt, giving them a chance to tie. Positioned on the sideline near their bench, point guard Boogie Fland was unable to inbound the ball and was called for a five-second violation—marking the team’s seventh turnover of the half. Ball then hit one of two free throws with 7.6 seconds remaining, making it a two-possession game and sealing the outcome.
Trailing 55-54 with nine minutes left, UConn broke out of a cold stretch with a decisive 12-3 run, scoring on five of six possessions. The surge included three-pointers from senior Alex Karaban and another from Ball, pushing the Huskies ahead 66-58. Florida cut the margin to 66-62 with 3:26 remaining, but junior center Rueben Chinyelu missed two free throws at 2:40, and Karaban answered with a late-clock floater to restore a six-point cushion.
The Gators trimmed the deficit to three when forward Alex Condon scored with 23 seconds left, but Ball responded by sinking both free throws to extend the lead. A driving layup by Fland was followed by a Huskies turnover, but Florida immediately gave the ball back, ending their rally.
UF
was led by senior guard
Xaivian Lee, who posted 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Junior forward
Thomas Haugh added 18 points, while
Condon contributed 14 points and nine boards. The Gators shot 42% overall but struggled from deep, hitting just 4-of-15 (27%). Ball finished 6-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-8 from three-point range. Karaban chipped in 13 points, connecting on three of five attempts from beyond the arc. UConn matched Florida at 42% shooting but was more efficient from distance, going 8-of-18 (44%).
UF guard Xaivian Lee going in action Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
Turning Point
During the decisive stretch, UConn converted five of six attempts to seize control, while UF missed three of four shots and committed a turnover. In an instant, the Gators found themselves trailing by eight with 4:30 remaining and forced to battle from behind the rest of the way.
Staggering Statistic
Across nine games, Florida has already matched its total losses from the 2024-25 campaign, when the Gators finished 36-4 and cut down the nets in San Antonio. This season’s four defeats have come by a combined margin of just 15 points.
Up Next
Florida (5-4) will wrap up its stretch of three straight road contests by traveling south to meet George Washington (8-2) in the Orange Bowl Classic at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. The Revolutionaries (formerly known as the Colonials) represent the Atlantic 10 Conference and are scheduled to play Delaware on Wednesday night.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.
