SETUP:

Florida, ranked third nationally, heads to Georgia for their second matchup of the season. The Gators enter on a six-game winning streak, though they slipped one spot in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll. Their most recent victory came Saturday night in Baton Rouge, where they rallied past LSU 79-65. That win kept them tied with Alabama for second place in the Southeastern Conference standings, as teams continue battling for seeding and coveted double-byes in next month’s league tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Georgia, meanwhile, has dropped four straight and five of its last six. The Bulldogs most recently fell 82-70 at top-ranked Auburn, a contest where they stayed close for much of the second half before the Tigers pulled away late. UGA is tied with Oklahoma for 13th in the SEC standings and is locked into playing on the expanded opening day of the conference tournament.

SERIES:

Florida holds a 126-103 edge in the all-time series, including 12 consecutive wins dating back to 2020. The teams met earlier this season on Jan. 25 in Gainesville, where the Gators rolled to an 89-59 victory. Florida shot 68 percent in the first half, drained seven 3-pointers, and built a 51-26 lead at the break. Five players finished in double figures, led by 17 points apiece from Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, along with 16 from Will Richard, who connected on four shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, UF limited Georgia to 36 percent shooting overall (5-for-21 from deep) and forced 18 turnovers that turned into 29 points.

ETC:

Few programs get the chance to face the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 teams back-to-back. Congrats, UGA.

Tale of the Tape

Florida faced a different kind of challenge in Baton Rouge. After building a 14-point lead in the first half, the Gators lost focus on both ends, allowing LSU to storm back with a 22-2 run over the final seven minutes to take a six-point advantage at halftime. The Tigers stretched the margin to eight early in the second half before Florida ramped up its energy and tempo. A 15-2 surge swung the lead back to UF, and though LSU stayed close, the Gators delivered a decisive 14-0 run in the closing minutes to seal an 18-point win. The performance may serve as a reminder about sustaining pace and pressure, especially with March looming.

Florida remains ranked No. 4 nationally in offensive efficiency and climbed to seventh in defense after holding LSU to 38.1 percent shooting overall and 29.0 percent from deep. Even without sophomore forward Alex Condon  (10.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg), the Gators dominated the boards with a 48-33 edge, including 19-12 on the offensive glass. Condon, sidelined the last four games with a low-ankle sprain, dressed and warmed up at LSU and could be cleared to play against Georgia.

Standout Performances

• Rueben Chinyelu: The center delivered his best outing as a Gator, scoring a career-high 19 points with 13 rebounds and two blocks. The Washington State transfer has now posted double-digit scoring in four straight games (12.5 ppg), after doing so just four times in the first 23 contests.
• Thomas Haugh: Starting in place of Condon for the third straight game, Haugh exploded in the second half with 13 of his 16 points, highlighted by four dunks and a 3-pointer. He added 10 rebounds, three assists, and shot 7-for-9 from the floor for his second double-double of the season. Over his three starts, he’s averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and shooting 58.3 percent, including 5-for-10 from deep. Notably, Haugh had his breakout game last year in Athens with 17 points and three 3s.
• Alijah Martin: Back in the starting lineup for the first time in five games, Martin scored 14 points, hit two 3s, and grabbed six rebounds in front of a hometown crowd just 80 miles from Summit, Miss.
• Walter Clayton Jr. : The point guard added 13 points and extended his streak to 49 straight games with at least one 3-pointer. Though he missed six attempts and went without an assist for the first time in four games, he also avoided turnovers.
• Denzel Aberdeen: The junior guard contributed 11 points off the bench on 5-for-9 shooting, along with two steals.
• Urban Klavzar: The reserve guard hit a 3-pointer for the sixth consecutive game, a key shot during Florida’s second-half rally. He’s now 10-for-18 from deep in SEC play (55.5 percent).
• Micah Handlogten: In his third game back, the junior center grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes, including three offensive boards, helping fuel Florida’s dominance inside.

Florida has now recorded at least five double-figure scorers in five straight games — a program record. The Gators have won six in a row despite missing at least one starter in each contest.

The Bulldogs

Now in year three with Matt McMahon leading the program, LSU is still chasing its first NCAA Tournament berth under his guidance. The Tigers finished 16-16 last season and earned an NIT invitation, but their run ended quickly with a first-round home loss to North Texas. While another NIT appearance is possible this year, expectations remain higher, especially considering the team’s last NCAA trip in 2021 and the dismissal of former coach Will Wade following NCAA violations.



The 2024-25 campaign began with promise, as LSU posted an 11-2 record in non-conference play. SEC competition, however, proved difficult, with the Tigers dropping their first three games and 10 of the opening 11 overall. More recently, they’ve shown signs of progress, picking up back-to-back wins, including a road upset of Oklahoma — their first Quad 1 victory in 10 tries this season.